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. Position Overview The RF Engineer is responsible for RF‑layer service readiness for satellite–cellular connectivity across our LEO/MEO constellation. This role ensures that beams, links, and terminal RF chains consistently meet the performance, robustness, and reliability required for commercial satellite broadband and direct‑to‑device (NTN) services.
Responsibilities:
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This role blends deep RF engineering expertise, practical SATCOM experience, and structured acceptance discipline to transform a complex satellite constellation into predictable, high‑quality, repeatable services.
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Positioned at the center of AST SpaceMobile’s RF and service‑readiness stack, the RF Engineer ensures that the constellation, beams, and terminals perform to the standards required for real‑world satellite broadband and NTN deployments. Success requires strong RF fundamentals, hands‑on SATCOM experience, and a disciplined acceptance mindset that combines technical depth with clear, actionable communication to cross‑functional teams.
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RF Service Readiness & Acceptance
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Own RF‑level acceptance criteria for satellite services, including link budgets, performance margins, coverage thresholds, interference limits, and beam/handover performance targets.
Requirements:
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Define, publish, and maintain RF Acceptance Packs detailing test plans, link‑budget assumptions, measurement methods, and pass/fail thresholds by region, beam set, and service profile.
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RF Test Design & Review
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Design lab, field, and hybrid RF test campaigns covering elevation angles, edge‑of‑coverage conditions, blockage scenarios, and high‑mobility cases.
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Specify RF setups—antennas, RF front‑ends, cabling, calibration standards, and measurement points—to ensure accurate, repeatable, and comparable results across labs and field teams.
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Review drive‑test and field‑test plans to confirm adequate RF coverage of priority beams, handover zones, and interference‑sensitive areas.
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Measurement, Analysis & Troubleshooting
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Analyze RF data (spectral plots, channel power, CNIR, MER/EVM, modulation behavior) from lab and field environments to verify compliance with acceptance criteria.
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Investigate anomalies—including unexpected fades, beam imbalance, spurious emissions, interference, or degraded margins—develop root‑cause hypotheses and drive corrective actions with design and operations teams.
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Correlate RF‑layer behavior with higher‑layer symptoms (attach failures, mobility issues, throughput degradation) in partnership with NTN/RAN, core, and system‑performance teams.
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NTN & Satellite–Cellular Integration
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Align RF acceptance assumptions with 3GPP NTN procedures, covering Doppler effects, timing behavior, and beam/satellite handover mechanisms.
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Ensure RF conditions support robust terminal/device operation under satellite constraints such as low SINR, variable elevation, blockage, and platform motion.