Spectrum Management and Analysis Specialist
7 days ago
Lanham
Job Description 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 This role leads spectrum‑cleanliness monitoring and interference analysis across satellite gateway sites and cellular beams, safeguarding spectrum integrity and service quality. You will own continuous RF‑environment assessment—including noise‑floor baselining, interference triage, spectrum‑occupancy evaluation, and field‑of‑view (FoV) availability—to ensure AST SpaceMobile gateways, terminals, and partner networks operate within expected RF conditions. Through continuous scans, automated baselining, and structured FoV assessments, the role provides acceptance and operations teams with clear, actionable visibility into spectrum risks. By developing and publishing dashboards, thresholds, and response playbooks, this function enables proactive mitigation, supports regulatory alignment, and protects persistence, availability, and service‑quality targets across all markets. Key Responsibilities Spectrum Monitoring & Noise‑Floor Baselines • Operate routine spectrum scans on satellite gateways, cells, and test beds., • Establish and maintain noise‑floor and FoV availability baselines for all markets., • Identify, triage, and characterize interference sources (in‑band, OOB, PIM, passive vs. active)., • Develop Root‑Cause Analysis (RCA) inputs and provide remediation recommendations., • Publish spectrum‑health dashboards, KPIs, and occupancy reports., • Define RF health thresholds and alerting rules for gateways and service beams., • Collaborate with regulatory teams on spectrum use, licensing compliance, and interference notifications., • Support cross‑market regulatory engagements, especially for shared bands and cross‑border interference., • Provide RF environment insights to NOC, performance, lab, field engineering, and acceptance teams., • Feed spectrum data into acceptance testing, gateway commissioning, and network optimization. Education • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, RF Engineering, or related field, • 4+ years in spectrum monitoring, RF analysis, spectrum management, or interference engineering in telecom, satellite, defense, or wireless networks., • Hands‑on experience with spectrum analyzers, scanning receivers, drive‑test tools, or automated RF monitoring systems., • Satellite or gateway spectrum management experience., • Familiarity with 3GPP air‑interface fundamentals (uplink channels, interference impact, RF behavior)., • Experience with interference hunting (TSC, IMD/PIM, rogue emitters, external interference)., • Strong knowledge of RF engineering and RF diagnostic skills and understanding of interference mechanisms., • Ability to analyze spectral data at scale and produce actionable insights., • Hands‑on use of RF scanning, monitoring, and analysis tools., • Clear communicator across engineering, NOC, labs, and regulatory teams., • Strong problem‑solving and structured RCA abilities., • Internal: RF Engineering, NOC/Operations, Satellite Systems, Network Performance, Labs & Test, Regulatory, Market Enablement, Program/Project Management., • Spectrum analyzers, scanning receivers, automated RF‑monitoring platforms., • Noise‑floor trending, occupancy analysis, FFT‑based diagnostics., • ITU/FCC/global regulatory guidelines., • Standard interference‑hunting methods (drive scans, directional analysis, isolation tests). Success measured by: • Gateway RF health KPIs and spectrum‑cleanliness stability., • Reduction of interference events and faster RCA/mitigation cycles., • Accuracy and completeness of spectrum dashboards and reports., • Regulatory compliance adherence and successful partner coordination., • Role based in US and can be done remotely, • Ability to work in lab environments and occasional field locations., • Travel to gateway sites, markets, and partners (~20–30%). 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.