Director, Partner Technical Management

AST SpaceMobile•Miami, FL

14d

About The Position

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 W e are seeking a Director of Partner Technical Leads to provide technical leadership and coordination across our global telco partnership technical teams. This role manages and synchronizes partner technical leads, ensuring consistent engineering excellence and standardized processes across Global Tier 1 Telcos maintaining technical authority for complex multi-partner integration challenges. This is a senior technical leadership position requiring deep satellite-cellular integration expertise, strong people management skills, and the ability to coordinate technical excellence across diverse partnership requirements and timelines. The ideal candidate will bring proven experience leading customer-facing support and deployment programs at scale. This role operates at the intersection of advanced satellite technology and global telecommunications, requiring both technical depth and leadership breadth. Success requires balancing technical excellence with business pragmatism while managing complex stakeholder relationships across customers, vendors, and internal teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Telecommunications, Systems Engineering, or related technical field
Minimum 15+ years in telecommunications, satellite communications, or wireless network engineering
5+ years managing technical teams in customer-facing or partnership environments
Proven experience with complex systems integration and multi-vendor technology deployments
Deep understanding of RAN technologies, core network protocols, and telecommunications standards
Strong knowledge of end-to-end satellite-cellular network architecture and integration
Experience with multi-gateway, multi-beam satellite systems and terrestrial network interconnection
Proven track record troubleshooting complex technical issues in production network environments
Strong technical leadership with ability to influence and mentor senior engineering talent
Exceptional communication skills for technical presentations to executive and customer audiences
Proven ability to coordinate complex technical initiatives across multiple stakeholder groups
Experience building scalable technical processes and organizational capabilities
Proficiency with network management systems, performance monitoring, and analytics platforms
Experience with collaborative engineering tools and technical documentation systems
Familiarity with Agile/DevOps practices for technical delivery and continuous improvement
Regular travel for partner technical meetings, on-site troubleshooting, and team coordination (~50%)
Ability to support technical escalations across global time zones including occasional off-hours support

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering management or advanced technical discipline preferred
Experience with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and 3GPP standards
Background in technical leadership roles at tier 1 MNOs, major system integrators, and satellite operators
Experience managing technical relationships with major telecom
Knowledge of regulatory requirements and spectrum management across multiple regions
Track record leading technical teams supporting revenue-generating partnerships exceeding $100M

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Team Management Lead and develop team of partner technical leads supporting major telco partnerships globally
Provide technical mentorship, career development, and performance management for technical lead team
Ensure consistent engineering standards and technical practices across all partner engagements
Coordinate technical resource allocation and expertise distribution based on partnership priorities
Partner closely with R&D RAN Validation engineering teams to align lab capabilities, testing strategies, and resource planning with evolving customer requirements and deployment roadmaps
Implement unified engineering processes, integration methodologies, and troubleshooting standards
Coordinate technical decisions affecting multiple partners or requiring centralized architecture alignment
Establish technical governance framework ensuring quality and consistency across partnerships
Drive knowledge sharing and best practice adoption between different telco technical teams
Provide technical oversight for complex multi-partner deployments and integration challenges
Coordinate technical troubleshooting during critical deployment phases across service delivery teams
Ensure technical readiness and validation processes meet partner requirements and company standards
Manage technical escalations and coordinate resolution with functional domain experts and R&D teams
Track technical KPIs, integration success metrics, and partner technical satisfaction scores
Develop technical performance dashboards and report for VP-level leadership visibility
Identify technical process improvements and efficiency opportunities across partnership portfolio
Coordinate capacity planning and technical resource forecasting for partnership growth
Interface with functional technology directors on cross-domain technical requirements and solutions
Provide technical input to partnership strategy and new business development initiatives
Coordinate technical due diligence and feasibility assessments for new partnership opportunities
Ensure technical team alignment with company technology strategy and competitive positioning