{"id":1303012,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-science-systems-engineer-operations-automation","title":"Systems Engineer, Operations Automation","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":{"grade":"A","score":94,"open_postings":204,"ghost_share":0.015,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":132,"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Lanham, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":98000,"max_usd":191000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":1020},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-23T19:16:35Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-06-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-01T02:45:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":99,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":99},"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 Systems Engineer, Operations Automation to architect and write the system-level requirements for spacecraft bus autonomy. Working at the intersection of flight software (FSW), ground software (GSW), fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR), and the various bus subsystems, the role defines the concept of operations (ConOps), autonomy requirements, and cross-subsystem interfaces that enable reliable, scalable, and increasingly automated operations. Rather than owning any individual subsystem, the engineer integrates across subsystem owners and partners with the software and operations teams to ensure a coherent, well-defined approach to operational autonomy as the fleet grows. \nKey Responsibilities:\nArchitect and write system-level requirements for spacecraft bus autonomy, translating operational needs into clear, verifiable requirements across subsystems.\nDefine requirements and concepts for fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR), including automated error detection, fail-over, and on-board recovery flows, in coordination with the responsible subsystem owners.\nDefine the concept of operations (ConOps) for automated on-board and ground operations, reducing manual, in-the-loop intervention and enabling operations to scale as the fleet grows.\nSpecify the interfaces and coordination between flight software (FSW) and ground software (GSW) required to deliver end-to-end operational autonomy.\nDefine system-level requirements for automated on-board sequences and routines that span multiple subsystems.\nSupport verification and validation of autonomy behaviors against the defined requirements.\nCoordinate across all subsystem owners to ensure consistent systems definition and integrated, automated operations.\nServe as the systems-level point of integration across flight software (FSW), ground software (GSW), FDIR, and the various bus subsystems, ensuring consistent definition and clean interfaces. \nQualifications \nEducation:\nBachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Systems, Computer, or Software Engineering, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.\nExperience:\nA minimum of 5 years of software and/or systems engineering experience, preferably with spacecraft, satellite, or other complex real-time systems, including hands-on experience defining and implementing software-based automation or autonomy. \nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience with satellite or spacecraft operations, including ground-segment automation.\nSoftware background, with hands-on experience developing or specifying flight software (FSW) and/or ground software (GSW).\nExperience architecting and writing requirements for spacecraft or vehicle autonomy.\nExperience authoring ConOps and leading systems definition across multiple subsystems and teams.\nWorking knowledge of fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) and closed-loop control.\nBreadth across multiple spacecraft disciplines and subsystems, with the ability to integrate autonomy at the system level. \nSoft Skills:\nStrong cross-functional leadership, with a proven ability to drive alignment across multiple subsystem owners and teams.\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills.\nStrong systems thinking, with meticulous attention to detail and operational rigor.\nAbility to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment and prioritize across competing demands. \nTechnology Stack:\nSoftware development and scripting languages (e.g., Python, C/C++).\nSatellite command-and-control and ground-system software.\nTelemetry analysis and data visualization tools. \nPhysical Requirements \nAbility to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods,\nAbility to support critical operations activities, including occasional off-hours, as needed.\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":4888,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Telecommunications"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-26T12:21:47Z"}],"liveness":{"score":48,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.799,"p_room":0.6,"age_days":99,"expected_fill_days":132,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:late","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-science-systems-engineer-operations-automation","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-science-systems-engineer-operations-automation.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T11:05:54Z","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":2488,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":2512,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}