Manastu Space
Website:
manastuspace.com
Job details:
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: careers@manastuspace.com
Role Objective
To support and take lead in the research and development and standardization of catalyst material used for the H2O2 based monopropellant used in thrusters.
The role focuses on developing the understanding in catalyst material (base material and active material), develop the relation between material's physical and chemical property to its final decomposition behavior in the thruster and its performance parameters.
Role Overview
The scientist will primarily be setting up experiments and using the characterization results to understand and design the catalyst material and guide the team towards achieving the same objective.
The developmental part will include but not limited to establishing process for catalyst preparation and studying it, developing the root cause tree for the developed processes, establishing the standards that are needed for the QC of the processes, establishing the protocols for the QA of the process. The scientist is expected to guide the team in the associated R&D activity via active mentoring, having group discussions like brainstorming, root cause analysis, etc.
Key Responsibilities
Catalyst material preparation:
a. Designing 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.
b. Carry out literature study and experiments to create new catalyst material for the H2O2 based propellants.
c. Carrying out experiments to understand the ways to enhance the catalytic property of the whole catalyst (active metal + support).
d. Establish the structure of activity co-relation of the catalyst material.
e. Establish and enhance the catalyst preparation process to improve the final required catalytic properties needed for the H2O2 decomposition reaction.
Material characterization:
a. Experience in interpretation of the characterization results such as XRD, XPS, ICP, SEM, TEM, BET, PSA etc. to infer insights to develop catalyst for the final application.
b. Hands on experience in operating the above characterization tools is preferred.
c. Having experience in software like MATLAB, MINITAB, COSMOL, DFT and Monte Carlo etc. will be an add-on.
d. Proficiency and interest in understanding the materials suitability for an application using characterization techniques.
e. Experience in utilizing characterization tools to understand the material failure points.
Data Analysis and Reporting:
a. Compile the experimentation and characterization results and draw meaningful conclusions to drive research objectives.
b. Compile and organize experimental data, prepare comprehensive reports, and present findings to the research team.
c. Contribute to the preparation of technical documents, research papers, patents, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
d. Building and maintaining the library for the standard needed for the preparation and characterization of the catalyst material.
e. Experience in compiling data usable for failure mode analysis.
Lab management and safety:
a. Adhere to laboratory safety protocols and maintain a clean and organized work environment.
b. Assist in the procurement and organization of materials, chemicals, and equipment necessary for experiments.
c. Taking care of instruments, maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and validation based on schedule.
Other skills:
a. Having the mindset to do independent R&D, as well as sharing the responsibility with team and carrying out the things as a unit.
b. Willing to lead a group of people towards a common objective.
c. Experience in developing catalyst beds for fixed bed reactors.
d. Proficiency in reaction mechanisms, reaction kinetics, transport phenomena, degradation models, etc.
e. Proficiency in Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, and any other failure analysis.
f. Proficiency in Design of Experiments to reduce the experimental iteration smartly.
g. Experience in establishing preparation process for a material and QA/QC for the same.
h. Creating a mathematical model to understand the reaction happening in the catalyst bed.
i. Interest in seeing the problems from first principles, interdisciplinary thinking, requirement-based thinking, etc.
Experience & Background
PhD in heterogeneous catalysis with at least 2-year experience in developing catalyst material for an application in an industry.
Strong background in reaction kinetics, solid state physics, and surface chemistry.
Experience in developing precious metal-based catalysts supported on a base material.
Experience in failure analysis like FMEA, RCA, etc.
Familiarity with DFT, COSMOL, MATLAB, etc.
Strong publishing records such as patents, research papers and conferences
Candidate should be capable of working 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 an understanding of the material that is being developed for an application.
They should be someone who:
• Is a highly driven experimental scientist with a deep interest in understanding the materials via first principles.
• 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 motivated towards guiding discussion and planning towards more logical and oriented towards application requirements.
• Is interested in developing strategies, models, engineering guidelines to improve the lifetime and the efficiency of the catalyst.
What Success Looks Like in this role
• Develops good logical co-relation between the material property and its behavior in the thrusters.
• Builds models to understand the material behavior in the intended operational conditions of the application.
• Builds the analysis protocol to understand the material properties through characterization tools.
• Strengthens the catalyst preparation process by incorporating engineering guidelines and QC standards.
• Delivers high quality outcomes with scientific rigor.
• Applies a problem-solving mindset in discussions and planning.
• Mentors or guides the team towards the development objectives, process standards, and professional development.
• Improve himself and the people working with.
We would like to hear from you (careers@manastuspace.com).
Click on Apply to know more.