Field Tester

AST SpaceMobile•Midland, TX

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 We are seeking a Contract Field Tester specializing in Service Acceptance for satellite broadband and direct-to-device (NTN) services across LEO/MEO constellation deployments. This role ensures that every feature, workflow, and service meets defined entry/exit criteria through rigorous field testing, evidence collection, and structured reporting. The contractor will work closely with Engineering, RF/NTN, Firmware, and Service Delivery teams to deliver complete acceptance validation packages The Contract Field Tester will execute structured drive tests and static performance validation across varied terrains and blockage conditions, validate NTN behaviors including timing/RTT, beam/satellite transitions, and mobility scenarios, while maintaining complete traceability from acceptance criteria to test evidence and final sign-off deliverables This contract role operates in demanding field environments supporting critical validation of satellite-cellular network performance for commercial service launch. Success requires deep technical expertise, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while maintaining the highest standards for data quality, safety compliance, and professional deliverable quality in challenging field conditions

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, or equivalent field experience
4-8+ years of experience in SATCOM, RF engineering, or telecommunications field testing with demonstrated acceptance/UAT focus
Understanding of LEO/MEO satellite characteristics including Doppler effects, elevation angle variations, beam/satellite transition scenarios, and constellation geometry impacts
Proven experience with Service Acceptance methodologies, ATP/ATPr development, and formal acceptance reporting processes
Strong RF testing skills with spectrum analyzers, power meters, signal generators, GNSS loggers
Handson with QXDM/QCAT, TEMS/SeeHawk/Accuver and protocol/RF analysis tools
Deep IP networking knowhow: MTU, fragmentation, NAT/CGNAT, QoS/DSCP, DNS/DHCP in satellite paths
Advanced log/trace analysis (Wireshark, iPerf3, OWAMP/TWAMP) and results visualization (KML/GeoJSON, ArcGIS/QGIS/Google Earth)
Excellent structured reporting, statistical interpretation, and acceptance documentation
Strong EHS/RF safety mindset, equipment readiness discipline, and secure data handling

Nice To Haves

Experience with 3GPP Rel-17/18 NTN validation and satellite-cellular integration testing scenarios
Background in maritime, aeronautical, or remote-area satellite communications field testing
Technical certifications in RF Safety, Telecommunications, or ISTQB Foundation testing methodologies
SDR experience (USRP, BladeRF) for RF capture and interference analysis in satellite environments

Responsibilities

Acceptance Planning & Criteria Management
Convert business/service requirements into testable acceptance criteria with clear pass/fail thresholds for throughput, latency, jitter, coverage, attach sequences, mobility, QoS, and application performance validation
Prepare Acceptance Test Plans (ATP) and Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPr) mapped to specific KPIs and technical requirements for satellite-cellular integration scenarios
Identify and plan necessary routes, locations, conditions, and environments for comprehensive acceptance testing including rural, urban, maritime, and high-mobility scenarios
Establish test matrices and coverage requirements for LEO/MEO satellite constellation validation across multiple beam coverage areas and handover scenarios
Field Execution & Validation
Deploy, configure, and align terminals/antennas for fixed, portable, and vehicular test scenarios ensuring optimal satellite acquisition and tracking performance
Execute structured drive tests and static performance tests across varied terrains, weather conditions, and RF environments to validate service acceptance criteria
Validate NTN-specific behaviours including timing/RTT characteristics, beam/satellite transitions, paging optimization, RRC stability, and mobility handover performance
Perform comprehensive coverage testing with emphasis on edge-of-beam scenarios, satellite elevation angle variations, and Doppler compensation validation
Evidence Collection & Defect Management
Capture complete evidence sets including RF metrics (SINR/RSRP/RSRQ/MER/CNIR/RSL), IP KPIs (throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss), PCAPs, RRC/PHY/MAC logs, spectrum captures, and synchronized GNSS/KML data
Ensure full traceability of each acceptance criterion to corresponding test case execution and supporting evidence with time-synchronized data collection
Raise high-fidelity defects with complete reproducibility steps, precise timestamps, geo-tagging, RF conditions, and suspected contributing factors for effective resolution
Maintain evidence integrity through secure data handling, proper chain of custody, and comprehensive documentation of test setup configurations
Reporting & Stakeholder Management
Prepare Service Acceptance Reports (SAR) with comprehensive pass/fail matrices, deviation analysis, performance trending, and technical recommendations for service readiness
Conduct stakeholder review sessions and manage follow-up test cycles, retesting, and validation activities until complete acceptance sign-off is achieved
Deliver consolidated Acceptance Packages including ATP/ATPr documentation, execution logs, analysis results, dashboards, findings, and formal approval artifacts
Provide real-time field updates and preliminary results to support rapid decision-making during critical acceptance phases