OnPrem DevOps Engineer

AST SpaceMobile

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 skilled OnPrem DevOps Engineer to design, deploy, and operate Linux and Windows systems and applications within virtualized environments such as VMware vSphere and Proxmox. This role sits at the intersection of infrastructure engineering, operating system administration, and application operations, with a strong focus on automation, reliability, and lifecycle management. The ideal candidate has deep hands‑on expertise with virtualization platforms, Linux and Windows administration, and DevOps‑driven tooling to support scalable, secure, and standardized environments.

Requirements

A minimum of 5+ years managing Linux and Windows systems in virtualized environments.
Hands-on experience working with VMware vSphere/ESXi and/or Proxmox.
Strong Linux administration and solid Windows Server administration experience.
Proficiency in scripting and automation (Bash, PowerShell, Python).
Strong understanding of networking, storage, and security principles within virtualized systems.
Experience with IaC or configuration management tools (Ansible, Terraform, Puppet).
Familiarity with Docker containers running on virtualized hosts.
Experience integrating virtualization platforms with CI/CD tooling.
Exposure to hybrid on‑premise and cloud environments.
Knowledge of monitoring and observability tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or OpenObserve.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with large-scale virtualization deployments or multi‑site infrastructure.
Familiarity with server hardware, SAN/NAS storage systems, and network virtualization technologies.
Experience supporting enterprise backup and DR tools.
Experience with Windows and Linux security compliance standards.
Understanding of application deployment patterns (microservices, multi‑tier, distributed systems).
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively across cross‑functional teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy of documentation, configurations, and operational procedures.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and drive initiatives to completion.
Commitment to continuous improvement and automation‑driven operations.

Responsibilities

Deploy, manage, and maintain virtual machines on VMware vSphere/ESXi and/or Proxmox platforms.
Design, maintain, and standardize VM templates and golden images for Linux and Windows OS environments.
Monitor, tune, and optimize VM performance, capacity, and resource utilization across compute, memory, storage, and networking.
Support lifecycle management of virtual infrastructure, including patching, major upgrades, and decommissioning of legacy systems.
Administer and harden Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS) and Windows Server environments.
Perform OS‑level patching, configuration management, and security hardening following best practices.
Troubleshoot OS, application, and infrastructure issues across virtualized environments.
Implement and maintain backup, restore, and disaster recovery processes for virtual machines and hosted applications.
Automate provisioning, configuration, and operational tasks using Bash, PowerShell, Python, or Ansible.
Build and manage CI/CD workflows that integrate with virtualized infrastructure.
Introduce Infrastructure‑as‑Code and automation‑first practices to reduce manual operational work.
Collaborate with application teams to ensure consistent, reproducible, and deployment‑ready environments.
Implement and maintain monitoring, logging, and alerting for hosts, VMs, and applications.
Participate in incident response, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement efforts.
Develop and maintain operational standards, documentation, and runbooks for virtualized infrastructures.
Support on‑call or escalation rotations to ensure platform availability and reliability.