Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad — a premier laboratory under DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation), part of the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex — has invited online applications for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Research Associate (RA) posts. A total of 17 posts are available across five categories. Eligible and motivated candidates with an inclination towards defence research can apply by post before the last date.
| Official Website | CLICK HERE |
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
ASL DRDO Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Organization | Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), DRDO |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. | ASL/2026/JRF/Advt/01 |
| Posts | Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Associate (RA) |
| Total Vacancies | 17 (16 JRF + 1 RA) |
| Nature of Post | Temporary (fixed tenure), non-regularizable |
| Mode of Application | By post (application form) |
| Last Date to Apply | Within 21 days of advertisement publication (Employment News: 12–18 September 2026) |
| Venue | Dr. R. N. Agarwal ASL Auditorium, ASL, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad |
| Official Website | www.drdo.gov.in |
About the Recruitment
ASL Hyderabad invites applications for JRF and RA positions from young, meritorious, and motivated Indian nationals interested in cutting-edge research for defence applications. Important: These posts are temporary (fixed tenure) and will under no condition be regularized or made permanent.
Vacancy Details (Post-wise)
| Post No. | Post | No. of Posts | Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | JRF | 8 | Electrical / EEE / ECE / Electronics |
| 02 | JRF | 6 | Mechanical / Aerospace |
| 03 | JRF | 1 | Material Science |
| 04 | JRF | 1 | Computer Science Engineering (CSE) |
| 05 | RA | 1 | Electronics |
Total: 17 Posts
Eligibility Criteria
Post No. 01 — JRF (Electrical/EEE/ECE/Electronics) — 8 Posts
- Essential: First Class B.E./B.Tech (Electrical, EEE/ECE/Electronics) with valid GATE score, OR ME/M.Tech in Electrical/EEE/ECE/Electronics with first division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels.
- Desirable: ME/M.Tech with experience in simulation tools such as Microwave Office, SystemVue, Visual System Simulator, HFSS, VLSI chip design/FPGA design.
- Area of Work: Fiber optic sensors, smart sensors and laser-based sensors/interrogators; FPGA-based framework validation for mission-critical systems; guidance and control; electromagnetic transparent structures design; microwave/EM simulations (wave interference, polarization analysis, RCS, trajectory analysis, antenna design, radome design); signal processing and machine learning for AI decoys; microwave/millimetre wave NDE on CRMC rocket motors.
Post No. 02 — JRF (Mechanical/Aerospace) — 6 Posts
- Essential: First Class B.E./B.Tech (Mechanical/Aerospace) with valid GATE score, OR ME/M.Tech in Mechanical/Aerospace with first division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels.
- Desirable: Ability to write scientific computing programs.
- Area of Work: Aerodynamics, CFD and heat transfer; flight mechanics; fabrication of structural composite structures, radome and thermal composite structures; propulsion design, inspection and testing.
Post No. 03 — JRF (Material Science) — 1 Post
- Essential: First Class BE/B.Tech (Material Science) with valid GATE score, OR ME/M.Tech in Material Science with first division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels.
- Desirable: ME/M.Tech in a relevant area.
- Area of Work: Bonding of Carbon/Carbon composites; development of process technology for C/C composite products through Chemical Vapour Infiltration.
Post No. 04 — JRF (CSE) — 1 Post
- Essential: First Class BE/B.Tech (CSE) with valid GATE score, OR ME/M.Tech in Computer Science with first division at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels.
- Desirable: ME/M.Tech in a relevant area.
- Area of Work: Natural Language Processing and voice-based command assistive systems in Launch Control Systems.
Post No. 05 — RA (Electronics) — 1 Post
- Essential: Ph.D in Electronics, OR ME/M.Tech in first division (Electronics) with 3 years of research/teaching experience in a reputed institution.
- Desirable: 4–5 years of experience in Microwave Theory, Antenna Designing, HFSS Modelling.
- Area of Work: Microwave/Millimeter wave NDE of CRMC solid rocket motors, electromagnetic theoretical modelling of composite structures, interpretation of complex microwave signals to detect subsurface delamination and disbonds.
Age Limit
| Post | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| JRF | 28 years |
| RA | 35 years |
- Age is calculated as on the closing date of the advertisement.
- Age relaxation: SC/ST — up to 5 years, OBC — up to 3 years, as per Government rules.
Stipend & Benefits
| Post | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| JRF | ₹37,000/- |
| RA | ₹67,000/- |
- Residential accommodation will be provided. In case accommodation is not available, HRA will be paid as per admissible rules.
- JRF Fellowship is initially awarded for 2 years, may be upgraded to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) for the 3rd year based on performance, and further extended for a 4th year based on performance.
- RA post is for a fixed tenure of 2 years (without extension).
- Fellowship is not employment — it does not confer any right to absorption in DRDO under any circumstances.
- Period of service as a research fellow will not be counted in any post of DRDO or other government departments.
General Instructions
- Only candidates who have already acquired the essential qualification/degree before attending the interview are eligible to apply.
- Candidates working in Govt/PSU/Autonomous Bodies must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of interview, if called.
- Candidates must produce all original testimonials (certificates, marks memorandum, etc.) related to age, education, and community certificate (if applicable), along with self-attested photocopies, Aadhaar card copy, and two recent passport-size photographs, if shortlisted — failing which selection will be cancelled.
- Marks in the qualifying exam must be mentioned in percentage; CGPA holders must convert to percentage as per their university norms.
- No TA/DA will be paid for attending the written test/interview or for joining, if selected.
- Candidates should make their own arrangement to stay for one or two days if selected for the written test/interview.
- Admission is not a matter of right — entirely at the discretion of the Selection Committee, which may refuse admission without assigning any reason.
- Number of vacancies may vary without prior notice.
Selection Procedure
After scrutiny of marks, percentage, and GATE score, shortlisted candidates (based on merit) will be called for a written test and/or interview. If a written test is conducted, only shortlisted candidates from the written test will be called for interview.
How to Apply for ASL DRDO Recruitment 2026
- Interested candidates must apply by post (offline) — online applications are not accepted for this notification.
- Prepare a neatly printed application with complete bio-data, including e-mail ID, mobile number, and valid GATE score.
- Affix a recent passport-size photograph on the right top corner of the first page of the application.
- Clearly indicate the post number applied for in the application, and mention the name and post number clearly on the envelope.
- Send the application to:
Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Kanchanbagh P.O., Hyderabad – 500058
- Last date to apply: Within 21 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in Employment News (published 12–18 September 2026).
Important Points to Note
- These posts are temporary/fixed-tenure and will under no circumstances be regularized or made permanent.
- The Director, ASL, reserves the right to amend, modify, cancel this advertisement, or cancel the admission/selection process at any time without assigning any reason.
- Medical facilities (for self only) are available in DRDO through the MI Room.
- Award of fellowship is not a matter of right — entirely at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the last date to apply for ASL DRDO Recruitment 2026? A. Applications must be sent within 21 days from the date of publication of the advertisement (Employment News, 12–18 September 2026).
Q2. How many total vacancies are there in this recruitment? A. There are 17 total posts — 16 JRF posts (across Electrical/ECE, Mechanical/Aerospace, Material Science, and CSE) and 1 RA post (Electronics).
Q3. What is the monthly stipend for JRF and RA posts? A. JRF gets ₹37,000/month, and RA gets ₹67,000/month, along with residential accommodation or HRA.
Q4. What is the age limit for these posts? A. Maximum age is 28 years for JRF and 35 years for RA, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC candidates.
Q5. Is a valid GATE score mandatory? A. Yes, a valid GATE score is required for JRF posts (Post No. 01 to 04) under the essential qualification for B.E./B.Tech candidates.
Q6. Can I apply online for this recruitment? A. No, applications must be sent by post to the Director, ASL, Hyderabad — this notification does not accept online applications.
Q7. Will TA/DA be paid for attending the interview? A. No, no TA/DA will be paid for attending the written test/interview or for joining, if selected.
Q8. Does this fellowship lead to a permanent job in DRDO? A. No, the fellowship is not employment and does not confer any right to absorption in DRDO under any circumstances.
Q9. What is the tenure of the JRF and RA positions? A. JRF is initially for 2 years, extendable up to 4 years based on performance (as SRF). RA is for a fixed 2-year tenure with no extension.
Q10. What documents are required at the time of interview? A. Original testimonials (certificates, marks memorandum), community certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar card copy, self-attested photocopies, and two recent passport-size photographs.
Quick Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | CLICK HERE |
| Official Notification PDF | Download Here |
Disclaimer: This blog post is based on information published in Employment News (12–18 September 2026), Advertisement No. ASL/2026/JRF/Advt/01. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official DRDO/ASL website before applying.