{"id":1303001,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-science-soc-validation-engineer","title":"SoC Validation Engineer","company":{"id":2057930,"name":"AST SpaceMobile","domain":"ast-science.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/ast-science","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":null},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Edinburgh, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":63000,"max_usd":136000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":438},"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Perl","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-15T12:03:10Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-07","last_verified_at":"2026-09-27T00:27:23Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":164,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":164},"description":"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.\nPosition Overview\nWe are seeking a SoC Validation Engineer.\nThe Silicon Team in Edinburgh is a small, highly focused group responsible for developing high-value silicon that is core to AST’s mission of “Connecting the unconnected”-delivering the world’s first space-based mobile broadband network.\nThe team works collaboratively to define and build next-generation silicon, exploring advanced silicon technologies to continuously improve performance, capability, and efficiency. This is a hands-on environment where silicon decisions directly impact AST’s ability to deliver a global communications network from space.\nIn this role, the Validation Engineer will be responsible for defining, executing, and reporting on the validation of complex integrated circuit devices, working closely with System Definition, IC Design, and Software teams. This role spans pre-silicon validation using FPGA prototypes through to post-silicon bring-up and system-level validation, ensuring devices meet performance, functionality, and system integration requirements.\nKey Responsibilities:\nWork closely with System Definition and IC Design teams to ensure devices are specified with optimal ball placement and external component selection to meet PCB technology and overall system requirements.\nDefine and specify laboratory equipment and infrastructure required to effectively test and validate devices.\nPerform validation bring-up using FPGA prototypes prior to IC manufacture.\nDefine comprehensive validation test plans to validate IC performance either standalone or within a wider system, covering hardware, software, and RF aspects.\nExecute manual bring-up and planned validation test activities, including fault isolation and debug.\nDefine, develop, and implement regression and automation procedures to improve validation efficiency and coverage.\nProduce clear and concise validation reports for technical review and sign-off.\nSupport board-level bring-up and debug activities in collaboration with hardware and software teams.\nQualifications\nEducation:\nBEng in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.\nExperience:\nMinimum of 4+ years of relevant industry experience.\nHands-on experience using laboratory equipment including spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, network analyzers, and similar instrumentation.\nPractical experience with scripting or programming languages such as Python, Perl, C, or C++.\nStrong verbal communication and technical documentation skills.\nExperience working effectively across multidisciplinary teams.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience with DSP, wireless communication systems, and SerDes technologies.\nExperience validating complex System-on-Chip (SoC) designs involving embedded software.\nBackground knowledge of RF fundamentals, antennas, and communication theory.\nSoft Skills:\nStrong verbal communication skills.\nStrong technical documentation skills.\nAbility to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.\nAbility to collaborate closely with System Definition, IC Design, Software, hardware, and validation teams.\nTechnology Stack:\nLaboratory validation equipment (spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, network analyzers).\nFPGA prototypes for pre-silicon validation.\nPython, Perl, C, C++.\nPhysical Requirements\nAbility to work in a standard office and laboratory environment and use a computer for extended periods.\nOccasional travel may be required to visit suppliers, partners, or other AST SpaceMobile design centres.\nThis job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands. \nAST SpaceMobile is an Equal Opportunity, at will Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4619,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":4,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Incident Response","Telecommunications"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-26T12:21:47Z"}],"liveness":{"score":8,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.284,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":164,"expected_fill_days":27,"reasons":["conf:4","ghost","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-09-27T04:41:40Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-science-soc-validation-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-science-soc-validation-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-27T04:41:40Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4020,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":980,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-28T00:00:00Z"}}}