Field Tester

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

Job summary

A leading satellite communications company is looking for a Contract Field Tester specializing in service acceptance of satellite broadband services. The role requires extensive field testing to validate service criteria. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering or a related field, and 4-8+ years experience in SATCOM or telecommunications field testing. Successful candidates will ensure quality validation in challenging environments across diverse geographical locations.

Qualifications

• 4-8+ years of experience in SATCOM, RF engineering, or telecommunications field testing.
• Understanding of LEO/MEO satellite characteristics.
• Proven experience with Service Acceptance methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Convert business/service requirements into testable acceptance criteria.
• Prepare Acceptance Test Plans and Procedures mapped to specific KPIs.
• Deploy and configure terminals/antennas for testing scenarios.

Skills

RF testing skills

IP networking

Signal analysis

Structured reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Wireshark

QXDM/QCAT

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 Contract Field Tester specializing in Service Acceptance for satellite broadband and direct-to-device (NTN) services across LEO/MEO constellation deployments. This role ensures that every feature, workflow, and service meets defined entry/exit criteria through rigorous field testing, evidence collection, and structured reporting. The contractor will work closely with Engineering, RF/NTN, Firmware, and Service Delivery teams to deliver complete acceptance validation packages.

The Contract Field Tester will execute structured drive tests and static performance validation across varied terrains and blockage conditions, validate NTN behaviors including timing/RTT, beam/satellite transitions, and mobility scenarios, while maintaining complete traceability from acceptance criteria to test evidence and final sign-off deliverables.

This contract role operates in demanding field environments supporting critical validation of satellite-cellular network performance for commercial service launch. Success requires deep technical expertise, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while maintaining the highest standards for data quality, safety compliance, and professional deliverable quality in challenging field conditions.

Key Responsibilities

Acceptance Planning & Criteria Management

• Convert business/service requirements into testable acceptance criteria with clear pass/fail thresholds for throughput, latency, jitter, coverage, attach sequences, mobility, QoS, and application performance validation
• Prepare Acceptance Test Plans (ATP) and Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPr) mapped to specific KPIs and technical requirements for satellite-cellular integration scenarios
• Identify and plan necessary routes, locations, conditions, and environments for comprehensive acceptance testing including rural, urban, maritime, and high-mobility scenarios
• Establish test matrices and coverage requirements for LEO/MEO satellite constellation validation across multiple beam coverage areas and handover scenarios

Field Execution & Validation

• Deploy, configure, and align terminals/antennas for fixed, portable, and vehicular test scenarios ensuring optimal satellite acquisition and tracking performance
• Execute structured drive tests and static performance tests across varied terrains, weather conditions, and RF environments to validate service acceptance criteria
• Validate NTN-specific behaviours including timing/RTT characteristics, beam/satellite transitions, paging optimisation, RRC stability, and mobility handover performance
• Perform comprehensive coverage testing with emphasis on edge-of-beam scenarios, satellite elevation angle variations, and Doppler compensation validation

Evidence Collection & Defect Management

• Capture complete evidence sets including RF metrics (SINR/RSRP/RSRQ/MER/CNIR/RSL), IP KPIs (throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss), PCAPs, RRC/PHY/MAC logs, spectrum captures, and synchronized GNSS/KML data
• Ensure full traceability of each acceptance criterion to corresponding test case execution and supporting evidence with time-synchronised data collection
• Raise high-fidelity defects with complete reproducibility steps, precise timestamps, geo-tagging, RF conditions, and suspected contributing factors for effective resolution
• Maintain evidence integrity through secure data handling, proper chain of custody, and comprehensive documentation of test setup configurations

Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Prepare Service Acceptance Reports (SAR) with comprehensive pass/fail matrices, deviation analysis, performance trending, and technical recommendations for service readiness
• Conduct stakeholder review sessions and manage follow‑up test cycles, retesting, and validation activities until complete acceptance sign-off is achieved
• Deliver consolidated Acceptance Packages including ATP/ATPr documentation, execution logs, analysis results, dashboards, findings, and formal approval artefacts
• Provide real‑time field updates and preliminary results to support rapid decision‑making during critical acceptance phases

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, or equivalent field experience
• 4-8+ years of experience in SATCOM, RF engineering, or telecommunications field testing with demonstrated acceptance/UAT focus
• Understanding of LEO/MEO satellite characteristics including Doppler effects, elevation angle variations, beam/satellite transition scenarios, and constellation geometry impacts
• Proven experience with Service Acceptance methodologies, ATP/ATPr development, and formal acceptance reporting processes

Preferred

• Experience with 3GPP Rel-17/18 NTN validation and satellite-cellular integration testing scenarios
• Background in maritime, aeronautical, or remote‑area satellite communications field testing
• Technical certifications in RF Safety, Telecommunications, or ISTQB Foundation testing methodologies
• SDR experience (USRP, BladeRF) for RF capture and interference analysis in satellite environments

Skills & Competencies

• Strong RF testing skills with spectrum analyzers, power meters, signal generators, GNSS loggers
• Hands‑on with QXDM/QCAT, TEMS/SeeHawk/Accuver and protocol/RF analysis tools
• Deep IP networking know‑how: MTU, fragmentation, NAT/CGNAT, QoS/DSCP, DNS/DHCP in satellite paths
• Advanced log/trace analysis (Wireshark, iPerf3, OWAMP/TWAMP) and results visualisation (KML/GeoJSON, ArcGIS/QGIS/Google Earth)
• Excellent structured reporting, statistical interpretation, and acceptance documentation
• Strong EHS/RF safety mindset, equipment readiness discipline, and secure data handling

KPIs / Success Criteria

• Acceptance Coverage: ≥95% criteria executed with evidence
• Data Quality: <2% invalid/missing logs
• Defect Quality: ≥80% reproducibility rate
• Reporting SLA: 48‑hour turnaround
• First‑Pass Success: ≥85% completion rate
• Safety: Zero incidents, 100% EHS compliance

Tools / Standards / Methods

• RF: spectrum analyzers, power meters, signal generators, GNSS logging
• Drive test: QXDM/QCAT, TEMS, SeeHawk, Accuver XCAL or equivalent
• Network: Wireshark, iPerf3, Speedtest CLI, OWAMP/TWAMP
• Mapping: KML/GeoJSON, ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth
• Test management, defect tracking, and professional reporting tools aligned with company acceptance and QA standards

Physical Requirements

• Contract engagement (Time & Materials / Milestone‑Based) with project‑specific assignments
• Extensive field‑based travel requirements (60‑80%) across diverse geographic locations including rural, remote, and challenging terrain environments
• Flexibility to work according to satellite pass windows, maintenance schedules, and acceptance timelines including nights/weekends as required
• Physical capability to handle RF test equipment, perform antenna alignment, and work independently in outdoor environments with varying weather conditions

Deliverables

Primary Contract Deliverables:

• Acceptance Test Plans (ATP) and Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPr)
• Daily field execution summaries with real‑time status updates
• Complete evidence bundles (logs, traces, PCAP files, RF measurements, GNSS/KML data, setup photographs)
• KPI performance dashboards and coverage heatmaps
• Comprehensive defect documentation with retest validation outcomes
• Final Service Acceptance Reports (SAR) with technical recommendations
• Complete Acceptance Packages for formal stakeholder sign‑off

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.