{"id":3009849,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-spacemobile-principal-systems-engineer","title":"Principal Systems 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":{"grade":"A","score":87,"open_postings":217,"ghost_share":0.134,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":112,"computed_at":"2026-10-24T06:02:35Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Titusville, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-20T16:04:51Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-24T13:10:22Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":3},"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 Launch Vehicle Systems Engineer to serve as AST's primary technical interface to our launch vehicle providers. Based near Cape Canaveral, FL and working remotely, this role owns launch vehicle interface definition and ICDs, integration of our spacecraft with multiple launch vehicles, and serves as AST's technical authority at the launch site through campaign execution and launch. \nThe ideal candidate has hands-on experience integrating spacecraft with launch vehicles, from interface definition through launch-site operations, and is comfortable making real-time technical decisions in the field. They thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and work effectively with providers, ranges, and internal teams across multiple sites. \nKey Responsibilities: \nServe as the lead technical interface between AST and launch vehicle providers, representing AST in technical interchange meetings, working groups, and mission integration reviews.\nServe as AST's technical authority at the launch site, leading spacecraft processing, integration, and encapsulation.\nOwn, negotiate, and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and related interface requirements between the spacecraft and launch vehicles, managing changes through formal configuration control.\nLead launch vehicle compatibility and coordinate integration analyses, including mass properties, structural loads and coupled loads analysis, environments, thermal, RF, electrical, and separation and deployment.\nDefine and track launch-related requirements, verification plans, and mission assurance deliverables, and ensure launch vehicle requirements flow down into spacecraft and ground design.\nSupport launch vehicle provider evaluation and selection, including technical assessments, trade studies.\nServe as AST's technical authority at the launch site, leading spacecraft processing, integration, encapsulation, and launch operations with launch vehicle, range, and facility teams.\nLead technical launch readiness reviews, and provide go/no-go technical recommendations to AST leadership. \nQualifications \nEducation: \nBachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field required; \nExperience: \nA minimum of 8 years of aerospace systems engineering experience, with at least 3 years in launch vehicle integration, launch vehicle interface management, or launch site operations on at least one spacecraft or payload that has flown \nPreferred Qualifications: \nExperience with multiple launch vehicles or launch providers.\nExperience serving as launch site or campaign technical lead for a spacecraft or large constellation.\nFamiliarity with range safety processes and requirements (e.g., SSCMAN 91-710) and launch site facilities at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center. \nSoft Skills: \nStrong interpersonal skills with proven ability to lead and influence launch providers, range and facility personnel, and internal teams without direct authority.\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to brief technical and executive audiences and negotiate technical positions with external partners.\nSound judgment and composure making technical decisions under schedule pressure and during launch campaigns.\nComfort operating in ambiguity, able to define the path forward when requirements are incomplete or interfaces are still maturing.\nMeticulous attention to detail in ICDs, verification records, and launch documentation.\nAbility to manage multiple providers and competing priorities in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.\nSelf-motivated and effective working independently in a remote setting, taking ownership and driving issues to closure without close supervision. \nTechnology Stack: \nMicrosoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for documentation, analysis, and reporting.\nCAD viewing tools and familiarity with structural and thermal analysis outputs, including coupled loads analysis (preferred). \nPhysical Requirements \nRemote position based within commuting distance of Cape Canaveral, FL; AST does not maintain an office in the area, so the role requires a dedicated home office and reliable internet.\nAbility to work at launch site and processing facilities, including cleanroom, hazardous operations, and outdoor environments, and to work extended and irregular hours during launch campaigns.\nTravel up to 20% to launch vehicle provider facilities, AST sites, customer meetings, and non-Florida launch sites, including extended campaign support.\nAbility to obtain and maintain access to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center; U.S. person status required for access to export-controlled launch vehicle data. \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":5850,"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":["Home office"],"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":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+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":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":112,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-24T06:02:35Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-spacemobile-principal-systems-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ast-spacemobile-principal-systems-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-24T16:20:31Z","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":23572,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-25T00:00:00Z"}},"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-principal-systems-engineer"},{"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-principal-systems-engineer"},{"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-principal-systems-engineer"},{"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-principal-systems-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fast-spacemobile-principal-systems-engineer"}]}