Senior Mission Integration Systems Engineer

AST SpaceMobile•Miami, FL

11h

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 Senior Mission Integration Systems Engineer to support Mission Operations across the full lifecycle of our space missions. This role acts as the bridge between mission definition, spacecraft design, and real-time operations—ensuring that what we design is truly operable and that teams remain aligned from scenario development through on-orbit execution. You will document operational scenarios, develop CONOPS, support rehearsals, and be actively involved through launch and early operations. This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role working closely with leadership, mission design, spacecraft engineering, and operations teams. This is a high-impact, senior technical leadership position ideal for someone who has supported multiple communications missions, understands spacecraft behavior on orbit, and can translate that knowledge into robust operational strategies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, physics, or related field.
A minimum of 15+ years in spacecraft operations, mission design, systems engineering, or flight dynamics.
Strong interpersonal and collaborative communication skills across engineering and operations.
Calm, structured approach during time-critical activities.
Strong analytical and scenario-thinking skills.
Detail-oriented documentation habits.
Comfortable leading rehearsals and presenting operational concepts to cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with constellation operations or high-throughput satellite architectures.
Background influencing spacecraft or ground system design for operability and autonomy.
Experience providing technical leadership across cross-functional teams.
Familiarity with operations automation, scripting, or monitoring frameworks.

Responsibilities

Lead development and ownership of system-level Concept of Operations (CONOPS), ensuring clear linkage to mission objectives, requirements, and system architecture.
Oversee creation of operational scenarios, timelines, modes, contingency strategies, and mission phase definitions.
Ensure CONOPS drives early design decisions, automation strategies, and operator workflows.
Partner closely with the communications payload team to assess early designs, validate operational feasibility, and ensure system architecture meets mission requirements and link budgets.
Support mission simulations, dry runs, and full-up rehearsals for launch, commissioning, and nominal operations.
Review test scripts, timelines, operator checklists, and expected system responses.
Drive identification of operational risks, dependencies, and mitigation steps.
Provide senior engineering leadership during launch and early orbit operations (LEOP), including real-time decision support.
Guide anomaly triage, recovery planning, and system performance evaluation.
Mentor operations and system engineering staff during critical mission phases.
Act as the interface between mission design teams, engineering, and operations, ensuring both sides understand constraints, capabilities, and operator impacts.
Provide operational inputs to system design, requirements, and verification planning.
Support anomaly resolution, contributing operational context and system-level insight.