Automation Engineer - Space Broadband & AI Testing

astspacemobile; Lanham (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

AST SpaceMobile is building a global cellular broadband network in space to enable direct use of standard mobile devices. This role focuses on designing automated test frameworks, end-to-end test suites, and AI-enabled automation to validate satellite and gateway systems.

The engineer will develop Python-driven automation, build dashboards, and ensure reliable lab operations, with emphasis on scalable analytics and documentation for cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of hands-on experience in automation development.
• Experience in telecommunications, satellite, or network systems.
• Experience developing automation for embedded systems, RF, or complex test environments.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end service lifecycle.
• Proficient in Python.
• Experience with REST APIs, data parsing, automation scripts, structured logs, and report generation.
• Experience with version control tools such as Git.
• Experience with CI tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar platforms.
• Familiar with RF equipment such as spectrum analyzers and signal generators.
• Hands-on experience integrating AI agents into automation and test workflows.
• Experience developing tools and servers for agents using MCP or equivalent interfaces.
• Ability to design agentic workflows that are cost- and token-efficient.
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery.
• Familiarity with evaluation and observability for AI systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop automated test frameworks, scripts, APIs, dashboards, and tools using Python.
• Develop end-to-end and HIL test suites for satellite, gateway, RF, payload, embedded, and communication-system workflows.
• Build and maintain automation with GUI support, cloud-triggered job execution, instrument drivers, result storage, and automated reports.
• Automate RF and system validation procedures that control lab equipment.
• Develop and maintain analytics and monitoring workflows for gateway/satellite platforms.
• Build and maintain AI-agent tooling for the automation stack, including MCP servers and APIs exposing lab equipment, telemetry, dashboards, and CI systems as agent-callable tools.
• Analyze test results, identify root causes, debug automation failures, and collaborate with developers to resolve issues.
• Present analysis visually via dashboards, charts, and reports readable by engineers and non-specialists.
• Create and maintain automation documentation, test plans, user guides, reports, criteria, and handover material.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure test coverage and reliability.

Skills

Automation development

Telecommunications

AI agent integration

Documentation

Team coordination

Communication

Problem-solving

Cost/token efficiency

Security awareness

Education

B.Sc. in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Python

Git

Jenkins

GitLab CI

SCPI/TCP

HTTP/XML

SNMP

SSH

MCP protocol

Job description

AST SpaceMobile is building a global cellular broadband network in space to enable direct use of standard mobile devices. This role focuses on designing automated test frameworks, end-to-end test suites, and AI-enabled automation to validate satellite and gateway systems.

The engineer will develop Python-driven automation, build dashboards, and ensure reliable lab operations, with emphasis on scalable analytics and documentation for cross-functional teams.