Associate AOCS Engineer

AST SpaceMobile; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AST SpaceMobile is seeking a motivated Associate AOCS Engineer to support advanced spacecraft control systems development. This role requires collaboration on software and hardware initiatives, testing, and validation activities. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering and has 0-2 years of experience.

Located in Washington, D.C., the position involves responsibilities such as developing attitude control software, conducting system-level testing, and working within cross-functional teams to ensure operational readiness.

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of relevant experience in an engineering role.
• Excellent communication skills for collaborative work.
• Attention to detail for documentation and deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain attitude control software and simulation tools.
• Design, execute, and document software testing against requirements.
• Collaborate with teams to support system integration.

Skills

Attitude control system design

Software testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or a related technical field

Tools

MATLAB / Simulink

C++

Jira

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected.

Position Overview

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate AOCS Engineer to support the development, testing, and operation of advanced spacecraft control systems. This role will contribute to software and hardware initiatives, assist with system validation activities, and support ongoing operational performance for space systems across various lifecycle stages.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain attitude control software and simulation tools
• Design, execute, and document unit-level and system-level software testing against defined requirements
• Support hardware-in-the-loop simulations and probabilistic performance analyses
• Contribute to guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) subsystem design and evaluation
• Maintain and review technical documentation to ensure completeness and traceability
• Assist in evaluating integration, testing outcomes, and on-orbit anomalies for safety and performance considerations
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support system integration and operational readiness

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or a related technical field

Experience

A minimum of 0-2 years of relevant experience (internships or academic projects acceptable)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with attitude control system design, modeling, or optimization
• Exposure to hardware-in-the-loop testing environments
• Experience developing or executing test plans for complex systems or software
• Ability to analyze system data and evaluate component-level performance
• Familiarity with control system components and their interactions within larger systems

Soft Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Meticulous attention to detail to ensure the accuracy of documentation and deliverables
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently

Technology Stack

• MATLAB / Simulink
• C++
• Issue tracking and project management tools (e.g., Jira or similar platforms)
• Microsoft Office Suite

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a standard office environment
• Ability to use a computer for extended periods
• Availability to support a continuous operations environment, including occasional after-hours or on-call support

This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands.

AST SpaceMobile is an Equal Opportunity, at will Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.