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 We are seeking a Principal RF Engineer to support the design, analysis, and optimization of advanced satellite-based communications systems. This role is responsible for developing RF performance models, link budgets, and coverage analyses to evaluate end-to-end network performance across space and ground segments. The Principal RF Engineer will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to assess system performance, optimize network availability, and support the development of reliable, high-capacity communications solutions.
Responsibilities:
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Develop, maintain, and analyze uplink and downlink link budgets, including EIRP, G/T, path loss, atmospheric effects, antenna performance, fade margins, and system availability.
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Create RF performance models to evaluate end-to-end communications performance under various operational and environmental conditions.
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Analyze phased array antenna performance, including beamforming, scan loss, sidelobe behavior, coverage patterns, and beam isolation.
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Evaluate the effects of Doppler shifts, propagation delays, latency, and user device constraints on network performance and capacity.
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Collaborate with network, systems, and radio engineering teams to assess modulation, coding schemes, throughput, and overall service performance.
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Develop and maintain feeder link analyses using industry-standard propagation models to evaluate weather impacts and network availability.
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Assess and optimize fade mitigation techniques such as adaptive coding and modulation (ACM), power control strategies, and diversity solutions.
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Perform system availability, sensitivity, and trade-off analyses to support infrastructure planning and performance optimization.
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Analyze RF hardware impairments, including interference, phase noise, amplifier non-linearity, and other factors affecting system performance.
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Develop simulations, analytical tools, dashboards, and reports to support engineering studies and operational assessments.
Requirements:
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Support troubleshooting efforts by developing performance baselines and assisting in root cause investigations.
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Provide technical leadership and guidance on RF system analysis, architecture trade studies, and engineering best practices.
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Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
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Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline preferred.
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Relevant industry certifications or specialized training in RF engineering, wireless communications, or satellite communications are a plus.
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Minimum 5 years of experience in RF systems engineering, satellite communications, wireless communications, or communications link analysis.
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Experience developing and maintaining communication system link budgets and RF performance models.
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Experience working with complex RF systems and multi-segment communications architectures.
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Demonstrated experience leading technical analyses, trade studies, and cross-functional engineering initiatives.
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Experience supporting communications infrastructure deployment, optimization, or operational performance assessments.
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Experience with satellite communications, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), or advanced wireless communication systems.
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Familiarity with atmospheric propagation modeling and communications availability analysis methodologies.