Service Engineer - Service Enablement

astspacemobile; Lanham (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AST SpaceMobile is seeking a Service Engineer to own RF and system-level correctness of satellite service passes, coordinating across ground segments and RAN domains. You will configure, validate, and troubleshoot RF chains, beamforming, and link budgets with telemetry and LTE counters to ensure service readiness.

You will drive in-orbit testing, build validation plans, and deliver production-ready handovers, leveraging Python/Lua/MATLAB for automation and data analysis.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of RF engineering, RAN, satellite or wireless systems validation.
• Deep understanding of link budget analysis including FSPL, EIRP, G/T and scan loss.
• Experience with IQ domain/DSP signal analysis and spectral inspection.
• Strong knowledge of LTE/RAN technologies.
• Scripting/automation for configuration validation and telemetry parsing.

Responsibilities

• Lead in-orbit testing and end-to-end LTE validation across payload, gateway RF chain, and RAN domains.
• Validate satellite and gateway configuration files and per-pass link budget targets.
• Perform RF and link budget analysis for LEO service passes and beam pattern validation.
• Analyze IQ captures to diagnose signal quality, calibration, and interference.
• Troubleshoot RF, RAN, payload, and gateway issues impacting LTE performance and handovers.
• Define feature acceptance criteria, KPIs, and readiness plans; oversee cross-functional reviews.
• Develop diagnostic dashboards and visualization tools to accelerate analysis.

Skills

RF engineering

RAN

LTE/RAN technologies

IQ domain/DSP analysis

Beamforming

Automation scripting

Telemetry analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

Tools

Python

Lua

MATLAB

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 rootcause. 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

Soft Skills

• 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.

Tec