Principal NTN Radio Access and Mobility Engineer

The role

This person will support the end-to-end integration of Gateway platform components and manage the network SKU. They will lead networking First Office Applications and optimize NTN radio-access behavior.

What you will do

• Own the end-to-end integration of Gateway platform components across all Gateway types.
• Define, lifecycle-manage, and document the network SKU for each platform component.
• Develop and maintain acceptance testing procedures, pass/fail criteria, and golden configurations.
• Support integration of platform components with 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.
• Develop mobility strategies across beams, satellites, gateways, and terrestrial networks.
• Translate R&D radio algorithms into production operating parameters.
• Establish radio-performance KPIs and investigate failed registrations, dropped sessions, and degraded throughput.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, RF engineering, telecommunications engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in radio access network (RAN) engineering with direct work on LTE and/or 5G systems.
• Experience integrating and testing eNodeB, gNodeB, or comparable RAN network elements in a production environment.
• Experience defining hardware/software SKUs, acceptance test plans, and golden configurations for complex network products.
• Experience leading First Office Application (FOA) or first-deployment validation efforts for new network products.
• Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to work in laboratory and technical testing environments utilizing RF test equipment and diagnostic tools.
• Ability to travel periodically to support deployment, integration, testing, and operational activities.
• Ability to safely handle and move technical equipment and hardware components when necessary.
• Ability to capture, analyze, and document technical test procedures, results, and system performance data.

Nice to have

• 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.

About the company

AST SpaceMobile and its global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. The network is called SpaceMobile.