Senior Ground Software Engineer
AST SpaceMobile
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
We are seeking a Senior Ground Software Engineer to play a key role in developing software and infrastructure supporting Ground Software and Mission Operations for our satellite constellations. The ideal candidate will have strong full‑stack engineering experience, a solid understanding of software design principles, and familiarity with operations-focused development.
As an integral member of the Ground Software Team, you will support the software systems that enable communication with and control of our satellites. This role offers significant autonomy in how systems are designed and built, making it well‑suited for a highly motivated, self‑starting engineer who is ready to lead major initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement software applications supporting mission operations for constellation‑based satellites.
- Architect, implement, and maintain network infrastructure supporting ground‑to‑satellite communication systems.
- Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve software issues across full‑stack and networked systems.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional engineering teams to identify operational challenges and develop automation‑focused software solutions.
- Serve as a leader within the Ground Software team across U.S. and India-based groups.
- Act as a strong individual contributor while providing technical guidance and thought leadership.
- Uphold and promote modern engineering best practices within the team.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (preferred but not explicitly required based on experience).
Experience
- Minimum of several years of strong software engineering experience (10+ years preferred).
- Proven experience in full‑stack development, networked systems, and DevOps practices.
Preferred Qualifications
- At least 10 years of hands‑on application development experience.
- Expertise in implementing DevOps concepts in complex environments, including:
- Continuous integration
- Continuous testing
- Continuous deployment
- Continuous monitoring
- Experience developing platform‑agnostic applications (iOS, Android, and web).
- Strong front‑end design and development experience.
- Experience with design/mockup tools such as Adobe XD or Figma.
- Experience with scripting languages such as Bash or PowerShell.
Soft Skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate across distributed, cross‑functional teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Self‑starter with the ability to lead initiatives independently.
- Strong problem‑solving mindset with attention to detail and a commitment to high‑quality deliverables.
- Ability to guide teammates and uphold engineering best practices.
Technology Stack
- Proficiency in DevOps systems and version control tools (e.g., Git).
- Strong understanding of networking fundamentals.
- Full‑stack development expertise using languages such as:
- C, C++, Java, Python, Go, or similar.
- Experience with frameworks such as:
- Backend: NodeJS, FastAPI, NextJS, Fiber, Express, OpenAPI, Swagger, TypeORM
- Frontend: Angular, Vue, React
- Mobile: Flutter, Swift, Android Studio
- Experience with multithreaded/concurrent programming.
- Cloud experience with AWS.
- Containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker.
- Comfortable working in both Linux and Windows environments.
- Experience with relational and non‑relational databases.
- Experience with centralized logging systems like Splunk or Elasticsearch.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work remotely in a standard home office environment.
- Ability to use a computer, keyboard, and communication tools for extended periods.
- Occasional optional travel may be required.
This 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.
AST 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.
