Pressure Vessel Development Lead

Role Objective Lead the design, analysis and qualification of the metallic propellant tanks for our hydrogen peroxide–based green monopropellant propulsion systems — from requirements to flight-qualified hardware. ‍ The role owns tank development end to end: deriving requirements and design trades; designing to pressure-vessel codes with static, fatigue and dynamic analysis; designing for manufacture and welding; helping establish the weld procedures; qualifying the design to code; and ensuring conformance through manufacture — setting the pressure-vessel standards the company builds to. ‍ Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Pressure Vessel Development Lead to join our growing aerospace facility in Navi Mumbai, with strong expertise in metallic pressure-vessel design, analysis and qualification. ‍ Manastu's propellant tanks are moving from development to flight-qualified production, and this is a foundational role: you will set the pressure-vessel standards and practices the company builds to, take tanks through qualification to launch-provider standards, and build the tank team. As its founding member, you will work hands-on across requirements, design, analysis and test. ‍ You will work closely with propulsion, materials and processes, structures and thermal engineers — helping establish the weld procedures (WPS/PQR) for each weld configuration with Materials & Processes, and analysing the tank against the launch environments you are given. The role focuses on metallic propellant tanks. ‍ Key Responsibilities Derive tank requirements — volume, maximum expected operating pressure (MEOP, including decomposition-driven pressure rise), cycle life and leak rate — and run the design trades, choosing the alloy from the approved material list against those requirements. ‍ Design metallic propellant tanks to AIAA S-080/081 and ASME BPVC Section VIII; own proof, burst and safety factors and the tank safety case. ‍ Substantiate life — safe-life and leak-before-burst arguments, fatigue and crack-growth analysis. ‍ Design for manufacture and welding (DFM/DFW) — machined domes, bosses and tolerances; weld joint type, process (friction stir or fusion), location and a weld land sized for the heat-affected zone — and help establish the WPS/PQR for each weld configuration with Materials & Processes and the vendor; design O-ring glands to AS568; allocate the leak rate and verify it by helium leak testing. ‍ Design the tank around its diaphragm propellant management device (PMD) — expulsion efficiency, residuals, and slosh forces for attitude control. ‍ Develop qualification and acceptance test plans to the pressure code, with test levels and pass/fail criteria derived from the requirements and the code; witness proof, burst, pressure cycling, leak, vibration and thermal-vacuum testing, freezing every design parameter — weld joints included — through qualification to code. ‍ Ensure conformance through manufacture — in-process and first-article inspection, unit acceptance, nonconformance reports (NCRs) raised and closed through the material review board (MRB), and supplier evidence reviewed rigorously. ‍ Own the tank interface control documents (ICDs) with the feed system, structures and thermal, and report mass and centre of gravity against the system budget. ‍ Run the analysis yourself — static analysis to burst, dynamic analysis (modal, random vibration and shock) against the launch vehicle environment, fatigue and crack growth — with CAD and drawings to ASME Y14.5. ‍ Design safety into every pressure test and procedure, with test hazards registered before testing begins. ‍ Build and lead the tank team, and release design rules, weld specifications and the leak-rate specification as company standards. ‍ Experience & Background Degree in mechanical, aerospace, structural or materials engineering, with 6–12 years in aerospace pressure-vessel or propellant-tank design. A Master's in structures, fracture mechanics or pressure-vessel design is an advantage. ‍ Designed at least one metallic pressure vessel to AIAA S-080/081, ASME BPVC Section VIII or ECSS-E-ST-32, from requirements through proof and burst testing. ‍ Hands-on, not delegated: CAD (SolidWorks/CATIA) with GD&T to ASME Y14.5; static and dynamic FEA (Ansys/Abaqus) — non-linear to burst, modal and random vibration; fatigue and crack-growth analysis (NASGRO/AFGROW or equivalent); a safe-life or leak-before-burst substantiation authored or reviewed. ‍ Design for manufacture and welding (DFM/DFW) and sealing — joint type and location, helping establish WPS/PQR with vendors, O-ring glands to AS568, leak-rate specification and helium leak testing. ‍ Developed and witnessed a qualification or acceptance test campaign to a pressure code (AIAA S-080/081 or ASME BPVC Section VIII), with pass/fail criteria derived from requirements, and ensured conformance through NCR and MRB. ‍ Led, mentored or built a team of engineers. ‍ Ideally: flight propulsion hardware, especially diaphragm or PMD tanks; friction stir welding of aluminium; slosh analysis; launch-provider safety reviews; green propellant or hydrogen peroxide systems. ‍ ‍ Ideal Candidate Profile A hands-on pressure-vessel engineer who takes a vessel from code design and analysis through manufacture and qualification, runs their own analysis, works with welders and vendors, and backs every claim with a number. ‍ Challenges designs — their own included — stops a test when it isn't safe, and reports bad news early. ‍ Owns interfaces, influences across teams without formal authority, and builds a team that carries the work forward. ‍ 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 If you are motivated by solving complex challenges at scale, we would like to hear from you ( careers@manastuspace.com ). ‍ Manastu Space is a pioneering space technology company developing green propulsion systems, redefining space safety. We specialize in full-stack maneuverability solutions for satellites and upper stages of launch vehicles. As the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow, ensuring safe and reliable maneuverability has become critical for mission-success and long-term orbital sustainability. ‍ Our propulsion systems offer an agile and enhanced maneuvering, with its proprietary hydrogen peroxide-alcohol based novel green propellant; MS-289. This performance-enhancing and high reliability fuel replaces toxic propellants such as hydrazine, making it the future-ready choice for sustainable satellite propulsion. ‍ Designed for safety, rapid integration and operational efficiency, our systems provide the precision required for orbit-raising, station-keeping, collision avoidance and end-of-life deorbiting, helping operators safeguard assets while reducing the growing threat of space debris. Website: https://www.manastuspace.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manastu-space/ Email: careers@manastuspace.com