{"id":3009859,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs","title":"Lead Systems Engineer, Defense Programs","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":88,"open_postings":237,"ghost_share":0.122,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":114,"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"lead","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":116000,"max_usd":234000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":89},"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":true},{"name":"Simulink","optional":true},{"name":"STK","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-03T21:17:28Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-06-19","last_verified_at":"2026-10-30T08:31:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":148,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":147},"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 Lead Systems Engineer to support AST SpaceMobile's growing defense business, applying our commercial space-based broadband solutions to government and defense missions. Based in Lanham, MD, this role serves as the primary systems engineering interface between our commercial satellite network capabilities and defense customer requirements. The ideal candidate holds an active TS clearance and brings deep experience translating defense mission needs into system-level solutions. \nKey Responsibilities:\nServe as the lead systems engineer for defense-focused programs, owning requirements definition, architecture, CONOPs defintion, integration, and verification across the full system lifecycle\nTranslate defense customer mission needs and operational concepts into system-level and subsystem requirements with clear traceability\nLead requirements flow-down and allocation across satellite, ground, and communications subsystems\nInterface directly with government customers, program managers, and defense contractors to align technical baselines and manage change\nLead system-level trade studies, risk assessments, and design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) for defense programs\nCoordinate with commercial engineering teams to identify capability gaps and drive adaptations of AST's SpaceMobile network for defense mission requirements\nSupport proposal development, technical volume authoring, and Basis of Estimate (BoE) for new defense business opportunities\nMaintain system engineering artifacts including ConOps, ICDs, verification plans, and traceability matrices\nMentor junior systems engineers on defense programs and champion systems engineering best practices across the team \nQualifications \nEducation:\nBachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. Advanced degree preferred.\nExperience:\nA minimum of 8 years of systems engineering experience, with at least 4 years supporting DoD or defense programs.\nActive Secret (S) security clearance required; TS/SCI eligible preferred. \nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience with active or passive RF systems engineering in a defense or aerospace context\nExperience with systems engineering tools for requirements management, modeling, and verification (e.g., JAMA, or equivalent)\nFamiliarity with RF propagation, link budgets, and RF system performance analysis in contested or space-based environments\nExperience supporting C2, ISR, or PNT mission applications\nPrior experience at a commercial space company, defense prime, or government lab\nActive TS/SCI clearance \nSoft Skills:\nStrong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with government customers, defense contractors, and internal commercial engineering teams\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing senior government or military stakeholders\nMeticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy of all technical documentation and program deliverables\nStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple programs\nSelf-starter with a proactive mindset and the ability to operate with limited supervision \nTechnology Stack:\nRequirements management and systems engineering\nMicrosoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)\nSystems modeling and analysis tools (MATLAB/Simulink, STK, or equivalent) \nPhysical Requirements\nAbility to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods\nAbility to travel up to 25% to customer sites, government facilities, and other AST SpaceMobile locations as needed\nMay require occasional work in a laboratory or satellite operations environment\nAdditional Requirement\nThis position requires an active U.S. government security clearance, or the ability to obtain one. U.S. citizenship is required.\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":4964,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Communications","Satellite Manufacturing","Mobile Networks"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-21T15:05:41Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 12 · green card filings: 3","filings_12m":12,"filings_prev_12m":2,"green_card_filings_12m":3,"median_offered_wage_usd":139833,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-29T16:27:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":32,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.737,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":148,"expected_fill_days":114,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-30T09:35:06Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":13774,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-31T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2057930},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2057930"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fast-spacemobile-lead-systems-engineer-defense-programs"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3009859}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"ast-science.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3009859},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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