Principal NTN Radio Access and Mobility Engineer

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 Principal NTN Radio Access and Mobility Engineer to support the end-to-end integration of all Gateway platform components, including the eNodeB, gNodeB, BPMS, and GPS Reference System, as well as their integration with the Antenna, RF systems, NCC, and OSS systems. This role is responsible for defining, lifecycle-managing, and documenting the network SKU — hardware and software, acceptance testing procedures, pass/fail criteria, and golden configuration — across all Gateway types, and for leading the networking First Office Application (FOA) for each new Gateway SKU to ensure R&D and vendor products are ready to deploy at scale. The ideal candidate has deep command of LTE and 5G radio-access protocols, 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) specifications, and the RRC, MAC, RLC, and PDCP layers, and thrives in hands-on work across timing advance, Doppler compensation, link adaptation, mobility management, beam transitions, cell selection and reselection, handover and session continuity, and radio-resource optimization. Key Responsibilities: Own the end-to-end integration of Gateway platform components — eNodeB, gNodeB, BPMS, and GPS Reference System — across all Gateway types. Define, lifecycle-manage, and document the network SKU (hardware and software) for each platform component. Develop and maintain acceptance testing procedures, pass/fail criteria, and golden configurations for the network SKU. Support integration of platform components with other Gateway elements, including Antenna, RF systems, NCC, and OSS systems. Lead the networking First Office Application (FOA) for each new Gateway SKU. Define, validate, and optimize NTN radio-access behavior, and support investigation and resolution of timing, frequency, and Doppler-related issues. Develop mobility strategies across beams, satellites, gateways, and terrestrial networks, and define handover behavior between terrestrial and satellite coverage. Translate R&D radio algorithms into production operating parameters and define QoS for voice, messaging, and data. Establish radio-performance KPIs and investigate failed registrations, dropped sessions, and degraded throughput. Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, RF engineering, telecommunications engineering, or a related technical field. Experience: 5+ years of experience in radio access network (RAN) engineering with direct work on LTE and/or 5G systems, including: Integrating and testing eNodeB, gNodeB, or comparable RAN network elements in a production environment. Defining hardware/software SKUs, acceptance test plans, and golden configurations for complex network products. Leading First Office Application (FOA) or first-deployment validation efforts for new network products. Preferred Qualifications: Direct experience with satellite or Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) systems, including satellite-to-device or satellite backhaul architectures. Familiarity with GPS/GNSS reference systems and precision timing/synchronization architectures. Experience working directly with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on network integration or interoperability testing. Familiarity with OSS/NCC systems and their integration with RAN network elements. Background in RF systems or antenna integration as it relates to end-to-end network performance. Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build productive relationships across technical and non-technical teams. Proven ability to collaborate effectively wi…