Stratum Defense Technology // Naval-first autonomous systems

Build the future. Defend the mission.

Stratum Defense Technology builds autonomous defense platforms, advanced sensor networks, and mission-critical software for the modern battlespace — beginning at sea and expanding across air and land.
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Naval-first focus
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Priority hires
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Domains covered
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About Stratum

About Stratum Defense Technology

Stratum Defense Technology was founded to build deployable defense capability with startup speed and systems-level rigor. The company is focused on turning technically ambitious concepts into operational platforms that can be fielded, tested, and improved on realistic timelines.

Our Mission

Our mission is to design and field defense systems built for real operational environments. We start with mission need, engineer for reliability, and iterate against realistic constraints rather than adapting commercial products after the fact.

Technology Edge

Our advantage is speed without sacrificing discipline. We combine modern development cycles, autonomy, sensing, and systems integration to move from concept to test article to deployable capability faster than traditional defense programs.

Why Stratum

The name Stratum reflects how we think about defense technology: layered, structured, and resilient. Platforms, software, sensors, and operators must work as one system, not as disconnected parts.

Leadership

Our leadership combines engineering execution, institutional navigation, and program discipline. That mix is intended to help Stratum move effectively between technical development, customer alignment, and fielded use.

Program Detail

Operating roadmap

Core programs are structured as expandable mission lanes across naval, air, and cross-domain autonomy.
Project MakaraFlagship autonomous undersea vehicle program focused on maritime sensing, modular payload integration, underwater navigation, and phased field validation.
Maritime Domain AwarenessPersistent coastal and fleet awareness architecture for tracking, monitoring, and mission coordination in critical maritime zones.
UAV ReconReconnaissance UAV systems designed for persistent ISR, modular sensors, and rapid deployment in contested operating environments.
Loitering SystemsAttritable loitering systems built for target persistence, rapid deployment, and scalable mission flexibility.
GPS-Denied NavigationNavigation and state-estimation stack for degraded, denied, or contested navigation environments across domains.
Autonomy & Mission StackCommon mission software backbone linking sensing, onboard compute, autonomy, and operator workflows across future platforms.
Leadership

The people behind the mission.

Stratum brings together technical execution, institutional access, and scalable company-building across engineering, defense strategy, and financial discipline.
Rajit Khanna headshot
RK

Rajit Khanna

Founder

Rajit Khanna is an engineering and operations leader with a background in autonomous systems, complex hardware programs, and execution at scale. His experience sits at the intersection of systems engineering, product realization, and operational delivery.

His work spans unmanned systems architecture, embedded hardware and software integration, avionics and electronics, sensor fusion, and lifecycle execution from early development through qualification and deployment.

Atul Puri headshot
AP

Atul Puri

Co-Founder

Atul Puri is a strategist and entrepreneur with experience working across technology, institutions, and the Indian operating environment. He brings a practical understanding of how new ventures gain traction through credibility, relationships, and execution.

His background includes business strategy, stakeholder engagement, government-facing work, and navigation of India’s defense and policy landscape. At Stratum, he helps connect product ambition to realistic pathways for growth and adoption.

Samanyu Puri headshot
SP

Samanyu Puri

Finance & Strategy

Samanyu Puri works at the intersection of technology and finance, with a background in computer science engineering and postgraduate training in fintech from the University of Exeter. His experience combines technical problem-solving with an understanding of financial systems, enabling him to approach complex challenges with both precision and commercial awareness.

At Stratum, he focuses on building the underlying technical stack while ensuring financial discipline and scalability remain central to execution. His role bridges product development and capital strategy, helping translate engineering efforts into sustainable, growth-oriented outcomes.

Projects

Programs shaping the company

Project MAKARA anchors the early portfolio, now expanded with air-domain reconnaissance, loitering systems, and GPS-denied autonomy programs designed for real deployment.
03 · Air

UAV Recon

Lightweight reconnaissance UAV systems designed for persistent ISR, rapid mission setup, and modular sensor payloads in contested environments.

04 · Air

Loitering Systems

Attritable loitering platforms focused on rapid deployment, target persistence, and scalable mission options for evolving battlefield requirements.

05 · Autonomy

GPS-Denied Navigation

Navigation, state estimation, and mission assurance stack for environments where GNSS is unavailable, degraded, or actively contested.

06 · Cross-Domain

Autonomy & Mission Stack

Mission planning, sensor fusion, onboard compute, and operator workflows designed to connect future naval, air, and land capabilities under one software backbone.

Network

The Stratum mission stack

A common software and sensing backbone intended to connect operators, platforms, and decisions across environments.
CORENAVALAIRLANDSENSORSC2 / DATA
Maritime domain awarenessCoastal awareness, fleet visibility, and maritime sensing fused into a coherent operating picture.
Autonomous mission layerDecision support, autonomy orchestration, and operator workflows designed for high-consequence environments.
Cross-domain integrationFuture air, land, and maritime systems linked through common data, alerts, and execution logic.
Scalable defense architectureModular by design, deployable in phases, and structured to scale as the portfolio expands.
Careers

Build what others can't

We are building autonomous defence systems for domains where failure is not an option — underwater, aerial, and beyond. Most institutions move slowly. Most companies optimise for comfort. We optimise for mission execution under constraints. If you want predictable work, this is not the place. If you want to build systems that will be deployed, tested, and used, read on.
How we operate
01

Real systems. Real environments.

We build hardware and software meant for deployment, not demos. Every system is designed for field use, failure, and iteration under real-world constraints.

02

Speed is a capability.

We move quickly because the problem demands it. Decisions are made fast, owned fully, and executed without layers.

03

Full-stack ownership.

Teams at Stratum work across boundaries — mechanical, embedded, autonomy, and integration. Problems are solved end-to-end.

04

Built for mission, not optics.

We are building a defense program with a path to field use. Everything is aligned to operational relevance, not presentation value.

How we hire
We don’t optimise for resumes. We optimise for builders. Our process is simple: you show us what you’ve built, we give you a real problem, and we evaluate how you think and execute. No whiteboard theatre. No generic interviews.
Open roles

Phase 1 hiring

Stratum’s first wave of hiring is built around Project MAKARA and the core systems required to design, build, validate, and position an autonomous undersea vehicle program for real deployment.
Role Description

This is Stratum's most critical Phase 1 hire. You will lead the design, build, and testing of Project MAKARA — India's first indigenously developed multi-mission autonomous undersea vehicle. You will own the full platform from hydrodynamic concept through prototype field trials, working directly with the Founder on all technical decisions.

Responsibilities
  • Lead AUV platform design including hull form, buoyancy, propulsion, and pressure housing
  • Define and own the vehicle's mechanical and systems architecture
  • Oversee integration of payload, navigation, power, and communication subsystems
  • Plan and execute pool and open-water test campaigns
  • Liaise with DRDO NSTL and Indian Navy stakeholders during evaluation phases
Requirements
  • M.Tech or Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering, Robotics, or Mechanical Engineering
  • 3+ years hands-on AUV or ROV design and testing experience
  • Experience with underwater vehicle hydrodynamics and propulsion systems
  • Proficiency in ROS, Python, C++, and CAD tools (SolidWorks / CATIA)
  • DRDO, NIOT, or naval R&D experience strongly preferred
Perks & Benefits
  • 15 days paid annual leave + all 11 national public holidays
  • Flexible hours — output over office time
  • Direct access to founders, zero bureaucracy
  • Relocation support for outstation candidates
  • L&D budget for courses, certifications, and conferences
Apply for this role
Open application

We hire builders, not job titles

Don’t see your role? If you’ve built systems, shipped hardware, deployed autonomy, or navigated real-world constraints, we want to hear from you. Tell us what you built, what broke, and what you learned.
Send resume hr@stratumdefensetechnology.com
Apply locations Chennai / Visakhapatnam / Delhi NCR — expanding globally
What to include Your background, what you build, real systems you have shipped, and the hardest technical problem you have solved.
Hiring philosophy We value builders, clarity of thought, technical ownership, and the ability to execute under real constraints.
Contact

Start a secure conversation.

Whether you represent a program office, a prime contractor, an investor, or an allied government — Stratum is built for serious conversations around defense technology, deployment, and strategic partnership.
Contact

hr@stratumdefensetechnology.com
stratumdefensetechnology.com

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