Senior Principal Systems Engineer

AST SpaceMobile•Lanham, MD

21h•Onsite

About The Position

AST SpaceMobile is building a global cellular broadband network in space designed to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices for commercial and government applications. The company is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join its growing team in Lanham, Maryland. This is a senior technical leadership role with system-level authority across multiple programs, owning system architecture and technical direction, resolving complex cross-cutting issues, and developing future systems engineering leads. The ideal candidate has led systems engineering on complex space or comparable programs from concept through launch and operations, is trusted by executives, customers, and engineers, and works effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. The position provides technical leadership across the system lifecycle, including architecture, requirements, integration, risk management, design reviews, customer engagements, and systems engineering practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 12 years of systems engineering experience.
At least 5 years serving as an SE Lead, Chief Engineer, or equivalent on a program of record or flight program.
End-to-end lifecycle experience on at least one program through launch and on-orbit operations.
Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and at the executive level without direct authority.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief and build trust with executive, customer, and government audiences.
Ability to operate in ambiguity, define a path forward, and make sound decisions when requirements are incomplete or roles are fluid.
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability, with judgment to balance technical rigor against schedule and cost.
Ability to manage competing priorities across programs in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.
Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical talent.
Self-starter who takes ownership and drives issues to closure without close supervision.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), requirements management tools such as DOORS or Jama (or equivalent), and Confluence and Jira.
Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods.
Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to AST SpaceMobile facilities or customer/government sites, up to 20%.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or PhD in a relevant engineering discipline.
Experience in space, satellite, or defense programs, ideally satellite communications, phased array, or RF payload systems.
Experience establishing or leading systems engineering practices and configuration control processes at the program or organizational level.
Experience with MATLAB / Simulink for analysis and trade studies.
Experience with STK (Systems Tool Kit) for mission analysis.

Responsibilities

Serve as technical authority for systems engineering across multiple programs, owning system architecture and technical direction from concept through verification, validation, launch, and on-orbit operations.
Define and own system architectures and mission concepts; lead trade studies and make and defend technical decisions in response to customer and internal needs.
Establish top-level system requirements and govern their allocation, flow-down, and interface control across subsystems, suppliers, and organizations.
Own technical budgets and margin philosophy—including mass, power, link, thermal, and schedule—at the program and constellation level, and ensure rigorous tracking across subsystems.
Drive system-level integration across RF, software, mechanical, electrical, GNC, and operations disciplines; lead resolution of complex cross-cutting technical issues and anomalies.
Provide technical leadership for proposal and business development efforts, including solution architecture, basis-of-estimate development, and cost and schedule inputs; represent AST in technical engagements with customers and government partners.
Serve as senior technical lead for major design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and technical interchange meetings, presenting to executive leadership, customers, and independent review boards.
Lead technical risk management by identifying and quantifying program and technical risks, driving mitigation, and advising leadership on risk-informed decisions.
Define and evolve systems engineering processes, standards, and practices, and drive their adoption across the organization.
Mentor and develop systems engineering leads and engineers, coach across the department, and contribute to hiring and talent growth.