Culture is how we fly

Propellant Research Scientist

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About Manastu

Manastu Space is a Space Safety and Logistics company focused on making space safe, sustainable, and accessible. We develop technologies to address critical challenges such as space debris mitigation and green propulsion, enabling safer satellite operations, and long-term sustainability of the space ecosystem.

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Our work sits at the intersection of advanced engineering, applied research, and mission-critical systems, requiring deep technical capability and long-term thinking.

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Website:https://www.manastuspace.com

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/manastu-space/

Email:careers@manastuspace.com

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Role Objective

Lead scientific research and experimental development to enable safe, reliable, and long-duration storage of hydrogen peroxide–based propulsion propellants.

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The role is responsible for understanding, executing and controlling peroxide decomposition kinetics, impurity-driven catalytic reactions, and propellant–material interactions that govern storage stability in propulsion systems, and translating these insights into stabilization strategies, compatibility limits, and predictive models required for flight-qualified propulsion hardware.

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Role Overview

We are seeking a Propellant Research Scientist to join our growing aerospace organization facility in Navi Mumbai, with strong expertise in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) chemistry, oxidizer stability, and long-term storage behaviour.

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This role focuses on understanding and controlling the molecular, kinetic, and materials-level behavior of H₂O₂-based propulsion systems under real engineering constraints.

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You will work at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and propulsion hardware, contributing to the development of stable, reliable, and flight-ready peroxide-based propulsion systems.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Lead fundamental research on hydrogen peroxide decomposition chemistry, including catalytic pathways, impurity-driven kinetics, and heterogeneous catalytic reactions at metal and oxide surfaces relevant to propulsion systems.

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2. Develop stabilization strategies for long-term propellant storage in propulsion systems and develop understanding of chemical stabilizers interaction with propellent at molecular level.

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3. Design and execute experimental programs to quantify propellant degradation under mission-relevant conditions, including temperature, material interfaces, and trace contamination levels.

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4. Establish predictive models for long-duration propellant storage, linking reaction kinetics and materials interactions to system-level outcomes such as pressure rise and concentration loss.

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5. Develop engineering guidelines for propellant storage and handling, translating chemical research results into design rules for propulsion system hardware.

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6. Lead failure investigations and anomaly resolution related to propellant stability, material compatibility, or unexpected decomposition behavior.

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7. Generate qualification data and technical justification required for propulsion system storage certification and flight readiness reviews.

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8. Collaborate with propulsion, materials, and systems engineers to ensure the chemical behavior of the propellant is incorporated into system design, storage margins, and mission lifetime predictions.

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9. Publish technical findings internally and externally, contributing to the scientific and engineering knowledge base of peroxide-based propulsion systems.

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Experience & Background

1. PhD in Chemistry (Organic or Inorganic), Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.

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2. Strong background in reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, free radical chemistry and oxidizer chemistry.

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3. Hands-on laboratory experience with hydrogen peroxide or strong oxidizers.

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4. Experience designing and executing controlled experimental studies.

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5. Familiarity with analytical techniques used in chemical characterization, with data analysis and interpretation skills to develop property- stability correlation.

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6. Strong publishing records such as patents, research papers and conferences

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7. Candidate should be capable to work in timeline driven, result oriented and fast paced environment

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Ideal Candidate Profile

• Highly driven experimental scientist with deep expertise in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) chemistry, oxidizer stability, and reaction kinetics.

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• Ability to translate fundamental research into practical propulsion system applications.

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• Demonstrate the ability to develop stabilization strategies, predictive models, and engineering guidelines for long-duration propellant storage, and have experience in failure analysis and solving complex stability challenges.

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• The ability to work in a fast-paced, result-oriented environment and collaborate across engineering teams is essential.

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What Success Looks Like in this role

• Achieves reliable long-term stability of H₂O₂-based propellants under mission conditions

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• Translates complex chemistry into practical stabilization strategies and engineering guidelines

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• Builds predictive models linking kinetics and materials behavior to system-level outcomes

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• Effectively identifies and resolves decomposition, compatibility, and stability issues

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• Contributes to qualification, certification, and flight readiness through high-quality data and analysis

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• Demonstrates strong ownership, delivering high-quality outcomes with scientific rigor

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• Applies a problem-solving mindset to drive root cause analysis and resolution

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• Communicates clearly and collaborates across teams in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment

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What we offer

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive health insurance

• High ownership and visibility, with direct access to leadership

• Support for learning, conferences, and research exposure

Subsidized lunch plan

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If you are motivated by building enduring technical institutions and solving complex hiring challenges at scale, we would like to hear from you (careers@manastuspace.com).

Head of Talent Acquisition – Strategic & Research-Led Deep-Tech Hiring

About Manastu

Manastu Space is a Space Safety and Logistics company focused on making space safe, sustainable, and accessible. We develop technologies to address critical challenges such as space debris mitigation and green propulsion, enabling safer satellite operations, and long-term sustainability of the space ecosystem.

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Our work sits at the intersection of advanced engineering, applied research, and mission-critical systems, requiring deep technical capability and long-term thinking.

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Website:https://www.manastuspace.com

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/manastu-space/

Email:careers@manastuspace.com

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Role Objective

Manastu is entering a high-growth phase at a time when artificial intelligence is set to transform every advanced industry including space. The future of space infrastructure, propulsion, satellite operations, and even AI-enabled data centers in space will redefine how technological ecosystems function globally.

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Rather than reacting to disruption, we intend to lead it. And that leadership begins with people. The objective of this role is not simply to fill positions, but to build foundational talent that will define how we compete, innovate, and scale in the next decade. We believe technological disruption starts with talent density, research depth, and the right long-term capability bets.

This role exists to ensure we build those capabilities deliberately and strategically.

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Role Overview

We are looking for a Head of Talent Acquisition with deep experience in strategic, research-driven hiring for advanced engineering and R&D roles. This role goes far beyond transactional recruitment and requires the ability to identify, engage, and close highly specialized technical and scientific talent through high-signal, unconventional sourcing channels like conferences, exhibitions, research articles, AI-driven sourcing, among others.

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This role involves high ownership, working closely with Founders and leadership team to build long-term talent pipelines for critical deep-tech roles.

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As the first point of contact for world-class talent, you are the face of Manastu Space. This role ismission-critical for our long-term trajectory; You aren’t just filling roles - you are shaping the technicaland cultural DNA of a company building for decades, not quarters.

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We are looking for a high-agency, research-driven Talent leader who combines:

• First-principles thinking

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• Technical curiosity

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• Structured judgment

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• Strategic workforce planning

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• Extreme ownership

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This is not transactional recruitment. This is a mission-critical engineering partnership.

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Why This Role is Critical for Us

The Head of Talent Acquisition will shape the intellectual and technical backbone of the company by identifying and attracting individuals who can build category-defining technologies.

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As one of the first touchpoints for highly specialized talent, this role will also serve as the face of Manastu for scientists, researchers, and senior engineers entering the ecosystem. The quality of engagement, clarity of vision, and credibility brought by this role will directly influence how top-tier talent perceives and chooses Manastu.

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This role plays a critical part in shaping the technical future of the organization. The right person will influence not just who we hire, but how we build teams, capabilities, and leadership for the long term.

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This role is for recruiters who enjoy talking to people, understanding the potential of the people and see how they can fit with our culture, enjoys solving hard hiring problems, finds innovative ways to engage with people and then inspire them to join Manastu Space — not for those looking for a standard recruitment playbook.
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Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic & Hands-on Hiring

• Own end-to-end hiring for highly specialized technical and research roles

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• Translate complex technical requirements into clear hiring and sourcing strategies

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• Partner directly with Founders, Principal Scientists, and Engineering Leaders to define role success profiles

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• Balance quality, depth, and long-term capability with hiring speed where required

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• Design and continuously refine the end-to-end recruitment process, including structured evaluation frameworks, technical assessment models, and decision-making rigor.

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• Design a thoughtful pre-onboarding and engagement journey to ensure high conversion, strong alignment, and long-term retention of all hires.

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2. Research-Driven Talent Sourcing

• Identify and engage talent beyond traditional recruitment channels, including:

   o Research papers, journals, and patents

   o Technical and scientific conferences (India and global)

   o University labs, professors, and research institutions

   o Niche technical communities and forums

  o Leverage AI-driven sourcing tools, data intelligence platforms

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• Build and maintain long-term talent maps for critical capability areas

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• Engage with passive and highly specialized candidates

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• Use advanced talent analytics to identify high-signal candidates and map niche skill clusters, and build predictive talent pipelines

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• Use structured research methodologies and emerging technologies to continuously improve sourcing precision and efficiency
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3. Pipeline Design & Workforce Planning

• Design future-ready talent pipelines aligned with technology and product roadmaps

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• Influence workforce planning and role design, not just requisition fulfillment

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• Continuously evolve sourcing strategies as organizational needs change
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4. Stakeholder Influence & Hiring Governance

• Act as a thought partner to hiring managers

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• Challenge assumptions around hiring requirements when needed

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• Ensure hiring decisions are driven by capability, depth, and cultural alignment, not convenience

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• Bring structure and rigor to hiring without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy

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Experience & Background

• 10+ years of recruiting experience, evidence of exceptional ability in building elite technical teams from

   o Deep-tech, aerospace, or advanced engineering environments

    o R&D or research-heavy organizations

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• Demonstrated success in hiring highly specialized technical and scientific talent

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• Exposure to IITs, IISc, global universities, or research labs is a

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strong advantage

• Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-evolving environments

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• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience working closely with technical and research teams

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• Ability to engage confidently with PhD-level researchers and senior engineers on complex hiring requirements

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Ideal Candidate Profile

• Thinks like a talent strategist, not a resume screener

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• Technically curious and able to engage deeply with engineers and researchers

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• Confident working directly with senior leadership

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• Values long-term capability building over short-term hiring metrics

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• High ownership mindset with strong judgment and discretion

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What Success Looks Like in this role

• Critical deep-tech and R&D roles are filled with high-quality, high-potential talent aligned tolong-term technology roadmaps

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• Strong, research-backed talent pipelines exist across key capability areas (propulsion, materials,AI integration, advanced systems, etc.)

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• Hiring managers view Talent Acquisition as a strategic partner, not a support function• Leadership has a clear view of where the world’s best talent sits, with a warm 12 - 18 monthforward-looking talent pipeline across critical domains.

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• Recruitment processes are structured, rigorous, and scalable without slowing innovation

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• Offer acceptance rates improve due to strong candidate engagement and clear valuearticulation

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• The organization builds a reputation within technical and research communities as a credibleand ambitious place to build meaningful careers

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• A scalable, tech-enabled recruitment framework balances speed with extreme quality.

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This role will influence not just who we hire, but how Manastu builds capability for the next decade.

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If you are motivated by building enduring technical institutions and solving complex hiring challenges atscale, we would like to hear from you (careers@manastuspace.com).