What We are Building

We're building critical dual-use technologies that support India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative while addressing urgent defense needs in SEAD/DEAD operations, precision strikes, ISR, and force multiplication through attritable platforms.

What You will Lead

Technical Leadership:

One of more of the following domains with Propulsion Systems Development

, Aircraft Design and Development

, and Additive Manufacturing

as being critical.

Cross-System Integration & Interface Ownership:

This is the CTO's most critical function: ensuring that highly specialized, disparate systems communicate and operate synergistically, guaranteeing overall mission success and safety.

Strategic Technical Governance & Scaling:

This function requires the CTO to translate deep technical insight into executive strategy, manage organizational risk, and ensure the company can meet future manufacturing and product goals. 

• Industrialization & Compliance:

  Architect and Govern the large-scale Additive Manufacturing (AM) system workflow from digital twins to final assembly, ensuring high yield (99.9%), cost reduction targets (60%), and AS9100 compliance.

• Scalability & Roadmap:

  Develop the comprehensive technical roadmap for scaling the entire platform integration and manufacturing process from initial demonstrators to full production aircraft.

Core Domain Mastery & Leadership: T

his function is critical for establishing technical credibility and providing the ultimate, hands-on, deep-dive support when a core system encounters a critical failure or roadblock.

• Domain Veto Power & Validation:

  Apply decades of hands-on expertise in the core discipline (e.g., Propulsion) to perform high-level design reviews, validate complex algorithms, and serve as the final technical arbiter to resolve intractable problems (e.g., direct the validation strategy for the turbo-ramjet transition algorithms).

• Technical Team Leadership:

  Recruit, mentor, and lead the technical executive team (Heads of Propulsion, AM, Airframe, and Avionics), fostering a culture of rigorous engineering, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Technical Strategy & Roadmap

• Define product roadmap from Pathfinder through Commercial Programs (3-10 year horizon)
• Establish technology development priorities balancing performance, cost, and schedule.
• Lead IP strategy development and patent filing.
• Drive Make in India sourcing strategy
• Position technology portfolio for dual-use applications (defense and civilian).
• Assess emerging technologies for potential integration (advanced materials, AI/ML, new propulsion concepts).

Fundraising & Investor Relations

• Active participation in all fundraising activities from Pre-seed through Series B rounds

• Present technical vision and roadmap to venture capital, strategic investors, and defense funds

• Articulate technology differentiation, competitive advantages, and IP moat to investors

• Translate complex aerospace engineering into compelling business value propositions

• Support due diligence processes with technical data, risk assessments, and milestone planning

• Participate in pitch presentations, investor meetings, and board presentations

• Help structure technical milestones and development timelines for investment tranches

• Provide credibility and technical validation during fundraising processes

• Target:

  Secure ₹15-25 crore in Seed/Series A within 18-24 months, ₹50-100 crore Series B by Year 3.

Team Development

• Recruit and lead engineering teams across propulsion, structures, avionics, manufacturing, and testing
• Establish design review processes and engineering best practices
• Create engineering culture focused on rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration
• Mentor junior engineers and foster technical excellence
• Build performance management systems aligned with program milestones

Infrastructure & Operations

• Establish engine testing facilities with instrumentation and data acquisition.
• Set up design and simulation infrastructure (CFD/FEA workstations, HPC cluster).
• Implement product lifecycle management (PLM) and configuration management systems.
• Ensure lab safety, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Investment & Fundraising

• Participate in fundraising discussions with strategic and financial investors
• Present technical roadmap to potential partners and customers
• Support business development efforts with technical expertise
• Contribute to board-level strategic decisions

Value beyond Capitals

We're seeking a partner who brings:

• Deep technical expertise in aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, or advanced manufacturing
• Network within defense/aerospace ecosystem (DRDO, IAF, industry, investors)
• Credibility to attract follow-on investment and strategic partnerships
• Active participation in fundraising with ability to articulate technical vision to investors
• Commitment to building long-term, not just financial returns

Required Qualifications

Essential Technical Background

• Education

  : Degree in Aerospace engineering or related field from a recognized institution.

• Experience

  : 10-15+ years in aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, or advanced aircraft development.

• Deep Expertise

  in one or more areas

1. Combined Cycle Propulsion Systems (mandatory)
2. Supersonic/hypersonic aerodynamics
3. High-temperature materials and thermal management
4. Aerospace structures and composites
5. Propulsion-airframe integration

Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of gas dynamics, combustion, and heat transfer
• Proficiency with CFD/FEA tools (ANSYS, GASP, or equivalent)
• Experience with engine testing and instrumentation
• Understanding of flight control systems and avionics integration
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing for aerospace applications

Investment Capability

• Ability to commit ₹30 lakhs - ₹1 crore investment for 10 to 15% Equity.
• Understanding of startup equity structures and long-term value creation
• Comfort with entrepreneurial risk and uncertainty

Highly Desirable

• Prior experience with DRDO, HAL, Boeing or defense contractors
• Track record of successful technology commercialization
• Existing relationships with Indian Armed Forces or defense procurement
• International experience with hypersonic programs (US, Europe, Japan)
• Publications in top aerospace journals or patents in propulsion systems
• Experience with MTCR compliance and defense export regulations
• Network of aerospace engineers who could join as team members

What We Offer

Equity & Upside

• Co-Founder Equity

  : 10 to 15% stake with standard vesting

• Long-term Value

  : Building IP portfolio worth hundreds of crores

• Protective Provisions

  : Standard co-founder protections

Impact & Mission

• National Importance

  : Enabling India's hypersonic capabilities and defense autonomy

• Technology Leadership

  : Working on problems that challenge top global aerospace companies

• Dual-Use Applications

  : Defense platforms that transition to commercial aviation

• Team Building

  : Assembling India's premier hypersonic propulsion team

Work Environment

• Technical Autonomy

  : Freedom to make engineering decisions and take calculated risks

• Rapid Iteration

  : Building at "speed of digital tools" with 12–14-month prototype cycles

• Cutting-Edge Facilities

  : Access to AstraForge additive manufacturing and testing infrastructure

• Collaborative Culture

  : Working directly with founder and small, high-caliber team

Why is this the Right Time

Market Timing

• Defense Modernization

  : India's defense budget increasing with focus on indigenous tech

• Hypersonic Race

  : Global competition in hypersonic weapons and platforms accelerating

• Atmanirbhar Bharat

  : Government prioritizing domestic aerospace and defense manufacturing

• Dual-Use Opportunity

  : Technologies applicable to both defense and emerging civilian supersonic/hypersonic transport

Competitive Position

• No Direct Competition

  : No other Indian organization developing complete turbo-ramjet systems for reusable platforms

• First-Mover Advantage

  : Establishing capabilities 5-10 years ahead of potential competitors

• Cost Leadership

  : AstraForge manufacturing enables 60% cost reduction vs traditional methods

Our Values & Culture

• Technical Excellence:

  We obsess over getting the physics and engineering right. No shortcuts on safety or performance, but we embrace rapid iteration and learning from failures.

• Mission-Driven:

  We're building for India's defense autonomy and technological leadership, not just commercial success. Impact and nation-building are core to our identity.

• Bias for Action:

  We move fast, make decisions with imperfect information, and course-correct quickly. The speed of execution is our competitive advantage.

• Transparency & Collaboration:

  As co-founders, we'll debate ideas intensely but commit fully once decisions are made. Open communication and mutual respect are non-negotiable.

• Long-Term Thinking:

  We're building technology and IP that will compound over decades. Short-term setbacks are expected; persistence and resilience are essential.

Contact & Next Steps

Ready to co-build India's hypersonic future?

Primary Contact:

Vaibhav Bhatnagar, Founder

Email: vaibhav@ardhandefence.in