Role: Catalyst Engineer

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.

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

Website: https://www.manastuspace.com

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

Email: [email protected]

Role Objective:

To support and take part in the research and development and standardization of catalyst base material used for the catalyst material used for H2O2 based monopropellant used in thrusters. The role focuses on developing the understanding in catalyst base material, catalyst preparation process development, establishing the testing protocols for the base material.

Role overview:

The engineer will be primarily setting up experiments and characterizing materials to understand and design the catalyst base material. The developmental part will include but not limited to establishing process for catalyst preparation and studying it, establishing the standards that are needed for the QC of the processes and material, establishing the protocols for the QA of the process. The engineer is expected to have the inclination to learn computational based material development, doing failure analysis, having discussions and brainstorming session, and preparation of documents.

Key Responsibilities

Catalyst material:

1. Carry out literature study and designing of the catalyst support and experimenting focused on building a catalyst support with required properties to withstand the high temperature and pressure combustion reaction in the thruster.
2. Improvement of the established catalyst preparation process, develop of reactors for the catalyst preparation and further scale up of the process.
3. Assist in establishing the structure activity co-relation of the catalyst material.
4.



Establishing characterization studies for catalyst base material.

Material characterization:

1. Experience in interpretation of the characterization results such as XRD, XPS, ICP, SEM, TEM, BET, PSA etc. to infer insights to develop catalyst base material.
2. Hands on experience in operating the above characterization is an add on.
3. Having experience in software like MATLAB, MINITAB, DFT etc. will be an add on. Inclination towards learning computational based material studies and development must be there.
4. Proficiency and interest in understanding the materials suitability for an application using characterization techniques

Data Analysis and Reporting:

1. Compile the experimentation and characterization results and draw meaningful conclusions to drive research objectives.
2. Compile and organize experimental data, prepare comprehensive reports, and present findings to the research team.
3. Contribute to the preparation of technical documents and presentations for internal and external audiences.
4. Building and maintaining the library for the standard needed for the preparation and characterization of the catalyst material.
5. Inclination towards learning compiling data usable for failure mode analysis must be there.

Lab management and safety:

1. Adhere to laboratory safety protocols and maintain a clean and organized work workplace.
2. Assist in the procurement and organization of materials, chemicals, and equipment necessary for experiments.
3. Taking care of instruments, maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting and validation based on schedule.

Other skills:

1. Having the mindset to share the responsibility with team and carry out the things as a unit.
2. Proficiency in Root Cause Analysis, FMEA and any other failure analysis is an add on.
3.



Proficiency in Design of Experiments to reduce the experimental iteration smartly is an add on.
4. Experience in establishing preparation process for a material and QA/QC for the same.
5. Interest in seeing the problems from first principles, inter disciplinary thinking, requirement based thinking etc.

Experience and background: Masters in chemical engineering, chemistry, material science, nanotechnology or related field with experience in developing heterogeneous catalyst material.

Strong background in reactor development, solid state physics, surface chemistry, characterization tools. Experience in developing precious metal based catalyst supported on a base material.

Familiarity in doing failure analysis like FMEA,RCA etc. Familiarity with DFT, MATLAB etc..

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

Ideal Candidate profile:

The ideal candidate would be someone who is interested in doing experiments and analysis to build the understanding about the material that is being developed for an application.

They should be someone who:

- Is highly driven experimental researcher with a deep interest in understanding the materials via first principle's Is highly motivated to align the R&D; with the application requirement.
- Can co-relate and trace back the application requirements to the material property.
- Is interested in developing preparation process, characterization, models, engineering guidelines to study the catalyst base material

What success looks like in this role:

- Develops characterization protocol for the catalyst base material Develop and establish catalyst preparation process Improves catalyst base material thermal and mechanical properties.
- Builds the analysis protocol to understand the material properties through characterization tools Strengthens the catalyst preparation process by incorporating engineering guidelines, QC standards Delivers high quality outcome with scientific rigor
- Applies a problem solving mindset in discussions and planning Improves himself and the people working with

📌 Catalyst Engineer (Navi Mumbai)
🏢 Manastu Space
📍 Navi Mumbai