Sr. Capabilities Developer - Defense Programs
AST SpaceMobile
| Company | AST SpaceMobile |
| Category | Engineering |
| Location | Lanham |
| Remote | On-site (inferred) |
| Employment | Not stated |
| Level | Senior |
| Salary | Not stated by the employer |
| Posted | 21 Jul 2026 |
| Last verified | 30 Jul 2026 |
| Source | Employer career page (greenhouse) |
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
We are seeking a Senior Capabilities Developer to design, develop, integrate, and deploy advanced software capabilities supporting government and defense-related communications programs. This role sits at the intersection of software engineering, systems integration, communications technologies, data analytics, and DevOps, owning the full lifecycle from concept development through operational deployment.
The ideal candidate will have experience developing end-to-end software solutions, integrating complex systems, and translating emerging operational requirements into scalable, production-ready capabilities. This individual will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver innovative solutions that support mission-critical operations.
Key Responsibilities
Design, develop, integrate, and deploy software capabilities supporting communications, spectrum awareness, signal analysis, and secure networking applications.
Build and maintain backend data processing pipelines, automated analytics workflows, and operator-facing applications.
Develop software solutions for signal monitoring, anomaly detection, data analysis, and operational reporting.
Implement signal processing algorithms and data analysis workflows to support detection, classification, and geolocation activities.
Develop and maintain software applications that interface with communications networks, data platforms, and operational infrastructure.
Contribute to the design, architecture, and implementation of secure communications solutions and resiliency features.
Collaborate with systems, RF, communications, and software engineering teams to integrate software capabilities with broader system architectures.
Design and develop user interfaces, dashboards, and visualization tools that present actionable information to end users.
Support system integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment activities across the full software development lifecycle.
Manage software deployment environments, configuration control, version management, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes.
Develop technical documentation, design artifacts, test plans, and user guides.
Participate in technical reviews, architecture discussions, and capability demonstrations.
Support proposal development, technical solution planning, and capability enhancement initiatives.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, communications engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Master's degree preferred.
Experience
A minimum of 5 years of experience in software development, systems integration, communications systems, capabilities development, or a related technical field.
Experience delivering software solutions across the full development lifecycle, from requirements through deployment and sustainment.
Experience developing applications in complex technical or mission-critical environments.
Proficiency in software development, systems integration, and operational deployment practices.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting government, defense, aerospace, telecommunications, or other highly regulated industries.
Experience with communications systems, cellular technologies, wireless networking, or spectrum management applications.
Experience with signal processing techniques, data analytics, and senso