Pradyut Chakraborty

11+ years in aerospace & defense composites — from R&D and prototyping to full-scale manufacturing and plant operations. Deep hands-on expertise across prepreg, vacuum infusion, and wet layup with CFRP/GFRP/aramid/silica fiber, autoclave curing, and core materials.

Delivered

India-first milestones: DGCA-certified fixed-wing VTOL UAV and the country's lightest Type-4 hydrogen tank. Strong track record in supplier/SCM management, cost optimization (₹87L saved in one quarter), and end-to-end program delivery reporting directly to CEOs.

Project Research Engineer - IIT Bombay - Mumbai, India

(2026-07)

• Developing a 10 kg eVTOL fixed-wing drone, leading composite structure manufacturing, design validation, and integration.
• Developing an ammunition-capable multicopter, covering composite airframe design, structural layup, and build.
• Driving design validation of composite drone structures, including material selection, layup planning, and structural review against load/mission requirements.
• Managing integration of composite structures with avionics, payload, and propulsion systems, and coordinating structural testing.
• Working closely with the research team on process development and documentation for research-driven UAV programs.

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer - BluJ Aerospace Pvt Ltd - Hyderabad, India

(2023-08 - 2026-07)

• Led planning, prototype development, and design review for a 500 kg VTOL drone; manufactured an octa-copter and 40 kg & 65 kg VTOL fixed-wing UAVs, all with ammunition-carrying capability.
• Developed a new vendor base for tooling and raw materials; ran costing estimation and DFM benchmarking, and generated QAP, SOP, and route cards per AS9100 Rev D and NADCAP.
• Selected vendors via sample testing; planned and assigned team tasks for smooth execution.
• Developed the lightest aerospace-grade hydrogen Type-4 tank; ensured composite part & bonded assembly quality through inspection and UT review.
• Ran market research studies across India and delivered cost/alternative-material solutions, saving ₹87 lakhs in a single quarter.

Manufacturing & Production Engineer - VTOL Aviation Pvt Ltd - Navi Mumbai, India

(2022-08 - 2023-08)

• Managed all phases of product development — engineering design, prototyping, testing, production support, and rollout — while meeting quality and cost standards.
• Maintained quality-system documentation and ran prototype/production builds in parallel to meet customer timelines; operated FDM and SLS 3D printers for R&D and production.
• Delivered DGCA certification for the AARAV_ENX6 (6 kg VTOL fixed-wing mapping/surveillance drone), a first of its kind in India, and transitioned it to production; developed the Avinandan (30 kg IC-engine) prototype and the Abhav 2 kg quadcopter.

Production Engineer - Valdel Advanced Technology Pvt Ltd - Bangalore, India

(2020-01 - 2022-12)

• Established product development strategy, drove process/cost improvements, and monitored CNC machining, composite trimming, bonding & painting.
• Manufactured CABS aircraft structures for DRDO, Delhi Metro composite doors, a 2.4 m BELL reflector for the Indian Army, Idea Forge drone wings, and Indian Navy heat-seal doors; also contributed to AMCA, GA & LCA DRDO projects.

Associate Engineer - Mahindra Defense Naval Systems - Pune, India

(2019-01 - 2020-12)

• Handled chemical etching, potting, trimming, layup & autoclave processes; contributed to VSSC Chandrayaan-2 parts (EB deck, SBRT panel).

Production Officer - TATA Advanced Materials Ltd - Bangalore, India

(2014-01 - 2017-12)

• Managed 42 personnel per shift, consistently met production targets, and contributed to FACC (Rolls-Royce) flight engine parts production.

B.E. - Mechanical Engineering - APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (2019-01 - 2019-12)

Diploma - Mechanical Engineering (2014-01 - 2014-12)