Ground Software Engineer (Senior) Verified today
About the Role
AST SpaceMobile is building the first global cellular broadband network in space, operating directly with standard mobile devices. We need a Senior Ground Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain software and infrastructure supporting mission-critical ground systems and operations.
You will be a strong individual contributor and technical leader, thriving in complex, regulated environments, taking ownership of system design, and driving improvements through automation and best practices.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain full-stack software applications supporting ground and mission operations
- Architect and support networked systems for secure communication between distributed systems
- Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve issues across application, infrastructure, and networking layers
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to identify gaps and improve operational workflows through automation
- Contribute to system architecture decisions and lead development of new tools and platforms
- Serve as a technical leader within the ground software team while remaining hands-on as an individual contributor
- Provide technical guidance, code reviews, and uphold industry best practices across software and DevOps processes
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
- Minimum 8-10 years of professional experience in software engineering or application development
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience building systems within regulated or compliance-driven environments
- Advanced experience implementing DevOps practices in complex production environments
- Experience developing platform-agnostic applications (web and mobile)
- Strong front-end design and development expertise
- Familiarity with modern UI/UX design and prototyping tools
- Experience with scripting and automation across multiple operating systems
- Exposure to formal security or compliance frameworks in enterprise or government settings
Technical Skills
Programming languages: Python, Java, C/C++, Go, or similar. Full-stack and API frameworks (Node-based or Python-based). Front-end frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue. Cloud environments (primarily AWS). Docker and container orchestration. Relational and non-relational databases. Version control and CI/CD tooling. Centralized logging and monitoring platforms. Linux and Windows operating systems.
Work Environment
Hybrid role based in Lanham, Maryland. Occasional travel required. You will work prolonged periods on software design, development, and troubleshooting, and participate in virtual meetings across time zones.