Service Engineer - Service Enablement

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

Job summary

AST SpaceMobile is seeking a Service Engineer to own RF and system-level correctness of satellite service passes, from beamforming configuration to post-pass RF/RAN analysis. You will validate, troubleshoot, and coordinate across ground stations, labs, and IOT testing to ensure reliable service delivery.

The role requires 5+ years in RF engineering or satellite communications, with strong expertise in link budgets, LTE/RAN, and DSP signal analysis.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of RF engineering, RAN, satellite communications or wireless systems validation.
• Strong knowledge of link budget analysis, EIRP, G/T and interference mitigation.
• Experience with IQ domain/DSP signal analysis including spectrogram/FFT inspection.
• Deep knowledge of LTE/RAN technologies and related equipment.
• Scripting/automation in Python, Lua, MATLAB for validation and telemetry parsing.
• Ability to analyze test results, identify root causes, and drive resolution across teams.
• Experience leading feature validation, production readiness, and handover activities.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead in-orbit testing and LTE end-to-end validation across payload, gateway RF chain, and RAN domains.
• Validate satellite and gateway configuration files, beamforming, and per-pass RF settings against link budgets.
• Perform RF and link budget analyses for LE0 passes, including EIRP and scan loss considerations.
• Analyze IQ data to diagnose signal quality, calibration, and beamforming performance.
• Troubleshoot RF, RAN, payload, and gateway issues impacting LTE performance and mobility.
• Define feature acceptance criteria, KPIs, validation plans, and rollout strategies.
• Lead cross-functional technical reviews with R&D, Operations, and Service teams.
• Build diagnostic tools and dashboards to accelerate pass analysis and troubleshooting.
• Prepare reports and handover packages for management and stakeholders.

Skills

RF engineering

RAN

Satellite communications

Python

Lua

MATLAB

IQ domain analysis

LTE/RAN knowledge

Education

B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering / Telecommunications / RF Engineering / Computer Engineering

Tools

IQ analysis tooling

Spectrogram/FFT analysis

Beamforming tools

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 talented and motivated Service Engineer to join the Service Enablement team, owning the RF and system-level correctness of every satellite service pass — from beamforming configuration through link budget validation to post-pass RF/RAN analysis. This role sits at the intersection of RF systems engineering, satellite payload configuration, and ground segment operations, responsible for configuring, validating, and troubleshooting satellite RF configuration against link budget and RF chain requirements, and for tracing anomalies back through telemetry, IQ captures, and LTE/RAN counters to root cause. This person works across ground station sites applying consistent, version-controlled configuration practices, and acts as a Service Enablement feature owner — defining acceptance criteria and KPIs for network/RF features, leading readiness reviews, planning validation from lab through in-orbit test (IOT) to production, and ensuring a clean technical handover to Operations, Service Delivery, and Service Assurance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead in-orbit testing and LTE end-to-end validation across the satellite payload, gateway RF chain, and RAN domains.
• Own technical validation of satellite and gateway configuration files, digital beamforming scaling, DSA settings, frequency plans, ADC/DAC scale factors, and AGC loop parameters against per-pass link budget targets.
• Perform RF and link budget analysis for LEO service passes, including FSPL vs. elevation-angle-dependent scan loss, EIRP and G/T budgeting, and beam pattern and pointing accuracy.
• Analyze IQ domain captures to diagnose signal quality, calibration convergence, harmonic/interference effects, and beamforming performance.
• Troubleshoot RF, RAN, payload, and gateway issues impacting LTE performance, mobility, handovers, multibeam operation, and customer experience, using telemetry, RF measurements, and RAN counters.
• Define feature acceptance criteria, RF/RAN KPIs, validation plans, rollout strategies, and production readiness success metrics.
• Lead cross-functional technical reviews, coordinating feature execution with R&D, Operations, Service Delivery, Service Assurance, and test teams.
• Build and maintain custom diagnostic and visualization tooling (RF/telemetry dashboards, beam and spectrum visualizers, IQ analyzers) to accelerate pass analysis and troubleshooting.
• Drive technical reporting, documentation, KPI reviews, readiness assessments, and production handover packages for management and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Education

B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, RF Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in RF engineering, RAN, satellite communications, or wireless systems validation environments.
• Practical understanding of link budget analysis for wireless links, free space path loss, elevation-angle-dependent scan loss, EIRP, G/T, interference mitigation, and RF measurement techniques.
• Experience with IQ domain/DSP signal analysis, including spectrogram or FFT-based inspection, power‑vs‑time analysis, and identifying harmonic or co‑channel interference.
• Deep knowledge of LTE/RAN technologies.
• Scripting/automation experience (Python, Lua, MATLAB) for configuration validation, telemetry parsing, and building custom analysis tools.
• Proven ability to analyze test results, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and drive issue resolution across multiple engineering teams.
• Experience leading feature validation, production readiness, rollout planning, technical reviews, and operational handover activities.
• Strong technical leadership and cross‑functional collaboration skills, working effectively with R&D, Operations, Service Delivery, Service Assurance, and customer‑facing teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with high attention to technical detail.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with multiple engineering and operations owners.
• Strong communication skills, including clear technical writing, concise issue summaries, and stakeholder‑ready presentations.
• Comfortable leading technical discussions, readiness reviews, and cross‑functional alignment for features and service validation.
• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced test campaigns with changing priorities and cross‑time‑zone coordination.
• Team player with an ownership mindset and the ability to drive issues from investigation to closure.

Technology Stack

• Link budget analysis tools and RF measurement equipment.
• IQ domain/DSP signal analysis tooling, including spectrogram and FFT‑based inspection.
• Python, Lua, and MATLAB for configuration validation, telemetry parsing, and custom analysis tooling.
• Telemetry and LTE/RAN counter systems for cross‑domain root‑cause analysis.
• Custom diagnostic and visualization tooling, including RF/telemetry dashboards, beam and spectrum visualizers, and IQ analyzers.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to use a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to work in an office and lab environment, including hands‑on work with RF test equipment and ground station systems.
• Ability to travel to ground station sites to support configuration, validation, and troubleshooting activities as needed.

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.