Solid Rocket Motor Development Engineer

About Astrophel Aerospace

Astrophel Aerospace is a Pune-based deep-tech propulsion startup developing small launch-class systems. We build and test propulsion hardware in-house and are expanding our propulsion team to accelerate demonstrator programs.

Role summary

We are hiring a hands-on Solid Motor Development Engineer to take ownership of small solid motor demonstrators (theory, materials characterization, vendor qualification, assembly oversight within company facilities, test planning and data analysis). The role requires strong technical judgement on propellant system requirements, materials specifications, and test verification — with clear record-keeping and program control.

Note: Candidate should have theoretical and laboratory-characterization knowledge of composite propellant systems (e.g., AP / HTPB based systems). All on-site work is performed per company approvals and procedures.

Key responsibilities

• Lead program execution for small solid motor demonstrators: define milestones, own schedules, track risks, and report status to Propulsion Lead.
• Specify materials and component acceptance criteria for propellant system supply chain (i.e., raw material spec sheets, particle-size, binder properties, certificates of analysis), and manage supplier qualification.
• Drive incoming materials inspections and laboratory characterization programs (e.g., particle size analysis, density measurements, thermal analysis reports) and maintain traceability and documentation (CoA, lot records).
• Define and manage test instrumentation and data-acquisition requirements (pressure transducers, strain measurement interfaces, high-speed telemetry requirements, DAQ sampling rates, synchronization needs) in coordination with instrumentation engineers.
• Prepare test verification checklists, pre-test readiness reviews, and lead cross-functional test execution meetings (ops, instrumentation, data, procurement).
• Analyze test data (thrust/pressure traces, impulse calculations, instrumentation health), perform basic signal processing and statistics, and produce concise technical test reports and lessons-learned.
• Maintain inventory and long-lead tracking for critical components (casings, nozzles, ignitors, instrumentation harnesses), and coordinate procurement timelines with supply chain.
• Establish and maintain technical documentation: BOMs, traceability records, build logs, non-conformance reports, and configuration control for demonstrators and test articles.
• Mentor and supervise assembly and test technicians; develop inspection checklists and acceptance workflows for on-site activities.

Required qualifications & experience

• B.E. / B.Tech or M.Tech in Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• 3–8 years
  experience in propulsion, solid motor programs, materials testing, or aerospace test engineering. Experience with composite propellant programs (AP/HTPB) is strongly preferred — theoretical understanding and experience working within licensed/regulated projects is ideal.
• Hands-on familiarity with materials characterization techniques and lab equipment (examples: particle-size analysis, DSC/TGA reports interpretation, XRD/SEM familiarity for materials verification — theoretical/interpretive use only).
• Demonstrable experience defining instrumentation requirements and working with DAQ systems; comfortable with MATLAB / Python for data processing and plotting.
• Strong vendor management skills: writing material specs, evaluating CoAs, qualifying vendors, and running procurement timelines.
• Excellent technical writing: test plans, post-test reports, non-conformance reports and supplier specifications.
• Comfortable with hands-on workshop oversight (fixtures, instrumentation routing, harnessing) and attending test activities on-site (may include non-standard hours).