Senior RF Testing and Integration Engineer

AST SpaceMobile and our global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. Called SpaceMobile, this ultra-powerful network is being designed to provide connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet – on land, at sea and in flight.

Position Overview

The Senior RF Integration & Test Engineer will own the complete testing lifecycle for satellite TT&C and GNSS subsystems. This role operates across both the RF development laboratory and the spacecraft integration cleanroom, defining and executing RF test campaigns from early technology validation through flight hardware integration and environmental qualification.

The engineer will validate satellite test procedures, develop and verify automated test software, and execute test campaigns that ensure spacecraft RF systems perform reliably from the factory floor to orbit. This position plays a critical role in ensuring ground system compatibility and supporting mission success through In-Orbit Testing (IOT) and satellite commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

• Define, author, and execute detailed RF test procedures supporting spacecraft development, integration, and production.

• Validate satellite-level test procedures and automated scripts within the RF development lab prior to execution on flight hardware in the cleanroom.

• Lead end-to-end “test as you fly” ground compatibility testing to ensure seamless RF communication between spacecraft radios and TT&C ground stations.

• Support the development and validation of system CONOPS and mission use cases through flatsat testing and integrated RF system validation.

• Provide mission support during satellite commissioning by leading RF data analysis during In-Orbit Testing (IOT).

• Plan and execute RF testing during environmental qualification and acceptance test campaigns including thermal vacuum (TVAC), vibration, and EMI/EMC testing.

• Perform advanced RF characterization measurements including EIRP, G/T, phase noise, group delay, P1dB, and passive intermodulation.

• Operate and maintain RF metrology equipment including vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and power meters.

• Oversee operation, calibration, and architectural evolution of RF Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE).

• Act as the primary on-site troubleshooting authority for automated RF test systems and related infrastructure.

QualificationsEducation

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.

Experience

• Minimum of 5+ years of hands-on experience in RF subsystem testing and validation within aerospace, defense, or satellite manufacturing environments.