Senior RAN System Architect - Satellite-Integrated Cellular Systems

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 Senior RAN System Architect to lead the definition, integration, optimization, and product roadmap execution of LTE/5G radio systems across our global satellite‑ground infrastructure—the first and only space‑based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones.

This role sits at the intersection of beamforming, fronthaul design, scheduler behavior, and interference management, while also owning the translation of system capabilities into a coherent product roadmap and serving as a trusted technical interface to customers and partners.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience from a leading RAN vendor, a strong understanding of baseband design and scheduling pipelines, and the ability to bridge engineering realities with customer expectations in a fast‑moving, non‑traditional deployment environment.

• Lead end‑to‑end RAN performance optimization by analyzing and tuning eNB/gNB behavior to maximize cell throughput (TpT), coverage, reliability, and interference efficiency.
• Ensure robust operation of terrestrial RAN features—such as scheduling, MIMO, mobility, and interference coordination—when deployed over AST's space‑based infrastructure via standard CPRI/eCPRI interfaces.
• Own cell‑ and network‑level performance modeling, including:
  • Spectral efficiency
  • Cell density and reuse strategies
  • Beam transitions and UE tracking
  • Interference prediction and mitigation
• Own the RAN feature roadmap: define, prioritize, and sequence feature delivery in collaboration with product management and engineering leads, balancing technical feasibility, development complexity, and commercial commitments.
• Drive feature provisioning end‑to‑end—from requirements definition and vendor engagement through integration, validation, and controlled enablement across the network—ensuring new capabilities are introduced reliably and without degrading existing performance.
• Manage customer and partner expectations by translating complex system constraints and development timelines into clear, honest, and actionable communications; serve as the primary technical point of contact for feature‑related inquiries from operators, partners, and key stakeholders.
• Maintain a living capability roadmap that honestly reflects the gap between customer‑expected functionality and current system state and defines a credible path—with milestones and dependencies—to close that gap.
• Collaborate with system integration, DSP, RF, and core network teams to align baseband behavior with AST's product goals.
• Define test strategies and validation plans that ensure system‑wide performance across the satellite, ground, and RAN layers.
• Serve as a key technical interface to RAN vendors and partners, participating in debugging, integration workshops, and roadmap alignment.

Education:

• BSc or MSc in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, or related field from a recognized institution.
• Relevant certifications in cellular systems or wireless communications (e.g., 3
  
  GPP, LTE/5G) are a plus.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8–12 years in cellular system engineering, RAN performance, or architecture roles (including vendor‑side experience).
• Proven experience in real cellular network deployment and optimization (lab and field).
• Expertise in 3
  
  GPP specifications for 4G and 5G, with hands‑on interpretation and application to system design.
• Firm understanding of PHY/MAC/RLC/PDCP/RRC layers and their interplay in baseband systems.
• Demonstrated experience owning or co‑owning a technical product roadmap, including prioritization under uncertainty and communication of trade‑offs to non‑engineering stakeholders.

• Experience…