Role: Aero-Thermal Engineer

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (On-site)

Employment type: Full-time

Industry: Space Technology

About Catalyx Space:

Catalyx Space is building the world's best reentry systems. Our reusable ReX vehicles return payloads from orbit at unprecedented scale, up to 12 tons and 60m³ of cargo, while operating the full mission lifecycle from launch to recovery. Our core innovation is a Origami-inspired deployable heat shield that combines the scalability of an inflatable system with the robustness of a rigid structure.

Built from commercial off-the-shelf components, it enables the world's widest heat shields, the largest payload return volumes, and a scalable pathway for returning everything from commercial cargo to future space nuclear assets.

Responsibilities:

- Perform aero-thermal CFD simulations for reentry heating environments.
- Model aerodynamic heating, ablation, and material response under hypersonic conditions.
- Define aero-thermal boundary conditions and load environments for structures and flight dynamics teams.
- Support thermal protection system (TPS) design, analysis, and validation.
- Develop thermal models for spacecraft orbital phases.
- Generate heating footprints, load maps, and thermal margins for mission design.
- Collaborate with mechanical and materials teams on TPS material selection and structural integration.
- Contribute to design reviews, verification, and testing of thermal protection systems.
- Guide and mentor responsible hardware engineers to ensure hardware meets aerothermal requirements.

Required Qualifications:

- Master’s in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with high-temperature fabrics and woven composites.




- 5–10 years of experience in hypersonic, supersonic, reentry, or rocketry external flow-field aerothermodynamic analysis.
- Strong knowledge of high-fidelity hypersonic CFD.
- Strong knowledge of thermal-chemical non-equilibrium flows.
- Experience integrating ground & flight test data into aerothermal vehicle models.
- Experience conducting a comprehensive CFD campaign from early design through to first flight.
- Experience with conceptual, preliminary, and final design/analysis of thermal protection systems.
- Proficiency in uncertainty quantification and relevant mathematical models.
- Hands-on experience with arc-jet or plasma wind tunnel test correlation to CFD.
- Proficiency in Python, C++, MATLAB, or similar languages for simulation workflows.

Nice to Have:

- Involvement in planning, leading, and/or post-processing plasma wind tunnel campaigns.
- Background in designing hypersonic reentry vehicles.
- Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, prototyping environment with rapid iteration.
- Prior flight heritage — your work has contributed to space hardware.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Willingness to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed.

Compensation & perks:

- Competitive salary (details will be shared with shortlisted candidates),
- health insurance
- Provident fund.

How to apply:

Apply via Zoho Recruit: https://catalyxspace.zohorecruit.in/jobs/Careers/193193000003204018/Engineering-Program-Manager?source=CareerSite

We only contact candidates from @catalyx.space emails. No fees are required at any stage of our hiring process.

Equal Opportunity: Catalyx Space is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any protected characteristic.

📌 Aero-Thermal Engineer (Ahmedabad)
🏢 catalyx space
📍 Ahmedabad