Ground Software Engineer (Senior)

AST SpaceMobile; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AST SpaceMobile is seeking a Senior Ground Software Engineer with deep full-stack development experience to design, build, and maintain software and infrastructure that supports mission-critical ground systems and operations. This hybrid, U.S.-based role involves working on software for monitoring, communication, and control of space-based assets.

The ideal candidate thrives in regulated environments, leads with hands-on contribution, and drives automation and best practices across DevOps,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain full-stack software applications supporting ground and mission operations.
• Architect and support networked systems for secure communication between distributed systems.
• Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve issues across application, infrastructure, and networking layers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve operational workflows through automation.
• Contribute to system architecture decisions and lead development for new tools and platforms.
• Serve as a technical leader within the ground software team while remaining hands-on as an individual contributor.
• Provide technical guidance, code reviews, and uphold industry best practices across software and DevOps processes.

Skills

Python

Java

C/C++

Go

React

Angular

Vue

AWS

Docker

Git

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Docker

AWS

CI/CD tooling

Git

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 Senior Ground Software Engineer with deep full-stack development experience to help design, build, and maintain software and infrastructure that supports mission‑critical ground systems and operations. This role plays a key part in developing reliable, scalable systems used for monitoring, communication, and control of space‑based assets.

The ideal candidate is a strong individual contributor and technical leader who thrives in complex, highly regulated environments, takes ownership of system design decisions, and proactively drives improvements through automation and best practices. This is a hybrid, U.S.-based role with occasional travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain full-stack software applications supporting ground and mission operations
• Architect and support networked systems used for secure communication between distributed systems
• Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve issues across application, infrastructure, and networking layers
• Collaborate with cross‑functional engineering teams to identify gaps and improve operational workflows through automation
• Contribute to system architecture decisions and lead development efforts for new tools and platforms
• Serve as a technical leader within the ground software team while remaining hands‑on as an individual contributor
• Provide technical guidance, code reviews, and uphold industry best practices across software and DevOps processes

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience

A minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience in software engineering or application development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building systems within regulated or compliance‑driven environments
• Advanced experience implementing DevOps practices in complex production environments
• Experience developing platform‑agnostic applications (web and mobile)
• Strong front‑end design and development expertise
• Familiarity with modern UI/UX design and prototyping tools
• Experience with scripting and automation across multiple operating systems
• Exposure to formal security or compliance frameworks commonly used in enterprise or government‑adjacent settings

Soft Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across distributed teams
• Proven ability to lead initiatives while remaining a hands‑on technical contributor
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High level of ownership, initiative, and self‑direction
• Meticulous attention to detail to ensure reliability and accuracy in mission‑critical systems

Technology Stack

• Programming languages such as Python, Java, C/C++, Go, or similar
• full‑stack and API frameworks (e.g., Node‑based or Python‑based frameworks)
• front‑end frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue
• Cloud environments (primarily AWS)
• Containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker)
• Relational and non‑relational databases
• Version control and CI/CD tooling
• Centralized logging and monitoring platforms
• Linux and Windows operating systems

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a standard hybrid office environment
• Prolonged periods of computer use for software design, development, and troubleshooting
• Ability to participate in virtual meetings across time zones

Occasional travel as required

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.