Associate Flight Assurance Manufacturing Engineer

AST SpaceMobile; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AST SpaceMobile is hiring an Associate Flight Assurance Engineer to help develop and improve mission assurance processes across spaceflight hardware. You will support design, manufacturing, and test activities to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Candidates typically hold a Bachelor's in aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering or have equivalent experience, and 0–3 years in flight or quality engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline OR 8 years of equivalent experience.
• 0–3 years in flight/mission assurance, quality engineering, or reliability engineering within aerospace or manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Assess new product concepts and designs for reliability, safety, and compliance with mission assurance standards; provide recommendations to Engineering and Program teams.
• Develop and implement mission assurance methods and processes to meet quality, safety, and regulatory requirements while supporting program schedules and cost objectives.
• Conduct risk assessments, failure mode analyses, and proof-of-concept studies to validate design integrity and operational readiness.
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation, including assurance plans, risk mitigation strategies, and compliance reports.
• Continuously improve mission assurance practices using industry standards and methodologies (e.g., FMEA, FRACAS, Six Sigma) to enhance reliability and reduce risk.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions for anomalies in design, manufacturing, or test phases.
• Participate in or lead initiatives related to safety, quality improvement, and process optimization.
• Ensure qualification and verification of new or modified products through rigorous assurance processes to completion.

Skills

MS Office

Risk analysis

Reliability modeling

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace/Mechanical or Systems Engineering

8 years equivalent experience

Tools

FMEA software

Windchill

Arena

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

The Associate Flight Assurance Engineer will assist in developing, evaluating, and improving mission assurance processes and practices to ensure product reliability, compliance, and quality throughout the lifecycle of space systems and components. This role supports design, manufacturing, and test activities to ensure the safety, functionality, and performance of flight hardware.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess new product concepts and designs for reliability, safety, and compliance with mission assurance standards; provide recommendations to Engineering and Program teams.
• Develop and implement mission assurance methods and processes to meet quality, safety, and regulatory requirements while supporting program schedules and cost objectives.
• Conduct risk assessments, failure mode analyses, and proof-of-concept studies to validate design integrity and operational readiness.
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation, including assurance plans, risk mitigation strategies, and compliance reports.
• Continuously improve mission assurance practices using industry standards and methodologies (e.g., FMEA, FRACAS, Six Sigma) to enhance reliability and reduce risk.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions for anomalies in design, manufacturing, or test phases.
• Participate in or lead initiatives related to safety, quality improvement, and process optimization.
• Ensure qualification and verification of new or modified products through rigorous assurance processes to completion.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline OR 8 years of equivalent experience.

Experience

• 0–3 years in flight/mission assurance, quality engineering, or reliability engineering within aerospace or manufacturing environments.
• Proficient with MS Office and familiarity with tools for risk analysis and reliability modeling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of quality standards (AS9100, NASA/DoD requirements), risk management processes, and mission assurance methodologies.
• Experience with reliability analysis tools or systems engineering tools.
• Exposure to aerospace hardware development, testing, or manufacturing environments.

Soft Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to prepare technical reports and assurance documentation.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Proven capability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented, analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills.

Technology Stack

• MS Office Suite
• Risk and reliability analysis tools (e.g., FMEA software, reliability modeling tools)
• PLM or document control systems (e.g., Windchill, Arena)
• Data analysis or visualization tools (preferred)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a standard office environment.
• Ability to use a computer for extended periods.
• Occasional support in lab or manufacturing environments may be required.

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.