VP Telco Network Architecture & Cyber Security

AST SpaceMobile•Dallas, TX

About The Position

AST SpaceMobile is seeking a VP, Network Architecture & Cyber Security to lead the design, evolution, and security of carrier-grade network infrastructure supporting advanced telecommunications services. This executive leadership role defines network architecture strategy across core, transport, and IP domains and establishes and maintains a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to protect critical network assets, services, and customer data. The VP leads the Network Engineering and Cyber Security organizations, setting architecture standards, security strategy, compliance programs, and technology roadmaps. In collaboration with engineering, operations, product, service delivery, and executive leadership teams, the role ensures services are designed, deployed, and operated to meet performance, security, scalability, and regulatory requirements. The position calls for extensive telecommunications network architecture and cybersecurity expertise, risk management experience, and organizational leadership, including a track record of leading large engineering and security organizations in complex environments. The role also represents network architecture and cybersecurity with customers, partners, regulators, and industry stakeholders; supports incident response; develops leadership teams and organizational plans; and reports strategy, risks, compliance, and priorities to executive leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Telecommunications, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum 15–20 years of experience in telecommunications network architecture, network engineering, cybersecurity, or related technical leadership roles.
Significant leadership experience managing engineering, architecture, and cybersecurity organizations.
Proven experience overseeing carrier-grade network architecture and cybersecurity programs.
Experience developing and implementing enterprise-level network and security strategies.
Experience leading global, geographically distributed engineering and security teams.
Experience managing risk, compliance, security governance, and operational readiness programs.
Experience in telecommunications, wireless communications, networking, or critical infrastructure environments.
Exceptional executive presence and leadership capabilities.
Strong strategic planning and organizational development skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with technical, operational, and executive audiences.
Strong decision-making and risk management abilities.
Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organizational alignment.
Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to balance long-term strategy with tactical execution.
Proven ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams.
Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods.
Ability to participate in executive leadership meetings, architecture reviews, security assessments, and strategic planning sessions.
Ability to review technical documentation, risk assessments, compliance reports, and architectural designs.
Ability to travel as required to support business operations, customer engagements, industry events, and leadership meetings.
Ability to coordinate activities across multiple regions, time zones, and global teams.
Ability to support incident response and critical business activities as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
Industry certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCIE, CCNP, GIAC, or comparable credentials.
Experience supporting satellite communications, non-terrestrial networks, or direct-to-device communication services.
Experience with mobile network operators, telecommunications service providers, systems integrators, or network equipment vendors.
Experience with large-scale cloud, virtualization, and software-defined networking environments.
Familiarity with modern security architectures, including Zero Trust frameworks.
Experience supporting regulatory audits, security certifications, and telecommunications compliance initiatives.
Experience presenting to executive leadership, boards of directors, regulators, and industry organizations.
Experience building and scaling high-performing engineering and security organizations.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end network architecture strategy across core, transport, IP, and interconnect domains.
Establish architecture standards, design principles, reference architectures, and engineering governance processes.
Ensure network designs support scalability, reliability, performance, and interoperability across global deployments.
Provide technical direction to network engineering teams responsible for architecture, planning, and implementation.
Define and execute the cybersecurity strategy, architecture, and multi-year technology roadmap.
Lead security architecture reviews for new services, infrastructure deployments, partner integrations, and technology initiatives.
Establish security policies, standards, and controls that support secure system development and operational readiness.
Drive vulnerability management, security testing, patch management, and risk remediation programs.
Integrate security requirements into validation, testing, deployment, and operational processes.
Own compliance efforts related to telecommunications, security, privacy, and industry regulatory requirements.
Lead security audits, assessments, and certification activities, and maintain compliance documentation and evidence.
Represent network architecture and cybersecurity with customers, partners, regulators, and industry stakeholders.
Maintain enterprise risk management processes related to network architecture, cybersecurity, and operational resiliency.
Support major incident response activities with senior-level engineering and security expertise.
Establish incident response frameworks, playbooks, escalation models, and operational readiness programs.
Partner with operational teams to strengthen security monitoring, threat detection, and response capabilities.
Lead and develop Network Engineering and Cyber Security leadership teams.
Build organizational structure, workforce plans, governance frameworks, and long-term talent strategies.
Establish operating rhythms, performance metrics, and executive reporting mechanisms for architecture and security organizations.
Present strategy, risk posture, compliance status, roadmap priorities, and key initiatives to executive leadership.
Identify and communicate strategic risks, architectural dependencies, security concerns, and roadmap impacts.