Program Director, Radar Programs

AST Space Mobile 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.

We are seeking a Program Director to lead execution of a mission-critical program supporting a U.S. Government customer’s national security objective. The program is built around a dedicated, minimally modified derivative of AST's commercial satellite constellation, and encompasses the full lifecycle — satellite delivery, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit mission operations — under a firm-fixed-price, milestone-based contract structure.

Serving as the single point of accountability for the program, the Director will own the customer relationship and be responsible for overall programmatic execution, including schedule and risk management, while coordinating closely with cross-functional teams across Systems Engineering, Space Segment, Launch, Ground Segment, and Mission Operations. This is a high-visibility leadership position reporting directly to the Director of Program Management, with the opportunity to shape and influence how AST Space Mobile Defense builds out its program management function.

• Serve as AST's primary program lead and customer point of contact, representing AST in program reviews, milestone negotiations, and day-to-day government customer engagement.
• Maintain an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and provide monthly programmatic status reporting covering technical progress, financial status, schedule status, and risk.
• Build and maintain a program risk registry (technical and programmatic) and drive mitigation actions across engineering, operations, and supply chain teams.
• Lead in-person program reviews, kickoff meetings, and periodic status briefings with the government customer, primarily in the Washington, D.C. area.
• Ensure compliance with program cost/schedule reporting requirements and program security and Operations Security (OPSEC) obligations.
• Directly supervise and mentor program management staff supporting the program.
• Coordinate cross-functionally across Systems Engineering, Space Segment, Launch Segment, Ground Segment, and Mission Operations to ensure on-time, on-cost delivery against contract milestones.
• Support proposal development, rough-order-of-magnitude (ROM) estimating for follow-on/expansion scope, and capture activities to grow the program.
• Stand up and mature PMO processes, tools, and standards for the defense subsidiary's growing program portfolio.

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, business, or a related technical field required
• Master's degree preferred.

• A minimum of 12 years of program management experience in the aerospace/defense industry, including direct experience managing firm-fixed-price, milestone-based U.S. Government or prime/subcontract programs.
• Experience managing satellite or space systems programs strongly preferred.

• PMP certification
• Experience with DoD cost and schedule reporting frameworks
• Experience with satellite communications, optical inter-satellite links, or SATCOM ground segment programs
• Experience standing up or scaling a PMO within a growing defense-tech organization

• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams under schedule and cost pressure
• Excellent written and verbal…