Chief Technology and Engineering Officer Full Time

🚀 We’re Looking for a Chief Technology Officer @Ardhan Research Labs

India is on the cusp of a new era in aerospace and defence. At Ardhan Research Labs, we’re not waiting for that era to arrive, we’re building it.

We develop next-generation Propulsion Systems and Hypersonic Aircraft designed to redefine air dominance. Our mission is unambiguous:

“Build sovereign, cutting-edge aerospace technology that puts India at the forefront of the global defence landscape.”

We are inviting retired Indian Air Force officers at the rank of Group Captain and above to join us as Chief Technology Officer.

This is not a consulting engagement. This is a founding leadership role, a seat at the table of an Indian aerospace company with serious ambitions. You won’t just be advising. You’ll be shaping the technical DNA of the company.

We are at an early and exciting stage of our journey, and we’re looking for someone who wants to be a true co-builder with meaningful equity ownership in what we create together. The right candidate will be driven by the scale of the mission, not the size of a pay cheque.

The Role:

• Own the full technical direction of Ardhan Research Labs from R&D roadmap to system architecture to institutional compliance.

• Be at the face of cutting edge Technology and Engineering with investors, media and other critical stakeholders.

• Lead and build a world-class engineering team aligned with CEMILAC, IMTAR, and relevant defence certification frameworks.

• Establish and leverage relationships with DRDO, GTRE, MoD, and the broader defence establishment.

• Drive the company from prototype to programme of record.

What You Bring:

• Senior IAF background with deep exposure to advanced aircraft systems, propulsion or high-speed flight.

• Familiarity with Indian defence certification and acquisition ecosystems.

• Leadership experience commanding technical or operational units.

• A belief that India should build not just buy its aerospace future.

You spent your career flying and commanding some of the most sophisticated machines ever built. Now, help us build the next ones, and own a piece of what that becomes.

Learn more about what we’re building: https://ardhandefence.in/

Reach out via DM or write to us at buildardhan@ardhandefence.in

Referrals are welcome and appreciated.