--- title: 'Mechanisms Flight Assurance Engineer at AST SpaceMobile' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanisms-flight-assurance-engineer-ast-spacemobile-midland-texas-agrxcxjn4wyq' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-12' --- # Mechanisms Flight Assurance Engineer at AST SpaceMobile - **Company:** AST SpaceMobile - **Location:** Midland Texas, United States - **Posted:** 2026-05-07 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12 - **Apply:** https://ast-science.com/company/careers/?gh_jid=4691681005 ## 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: The Flight Assurance Engineer will independently execute mechanisms-specific flight assurance processes and practices to ensure product reliability, compliance, and quality throughout the lifecycle of flight mechanisms and mechanical assemblies. This role owns design, manufacturing, test, and integration related assurance activities to ensure the safety, functionality, and performance of flight hardware with limited supervision. ## Key Responsibilities - Own and execute flight assurance methods, plans, and processes across the full mechanisms development and production lifecycle — encompassing design, manufacturing, assembly, test, and integration — while supporting program schedule and cost objectives and meeting quality, safety, and regulatory requirements. - Conduct independent inspections at defined hold points across assembly, test, and integration for high-complexity mechanisms. Define, maintain, and enforce witness point classifications for all mechanisms through their full product lifecycle. - Review and approve assembly work instructions and test procedures before execution across functional and environmental test campaigns. Track qualification and verification of mechanisms through rigorous assurance processes including test readiness review, TVAC and life test witnessing, and test completion sign-off. - Execute mechanisms buyoff at assembly, test, and integration stages with objective evidence substantiation. Define and maintain audit methods for each buyoff stage. - Own the nonconformance register from origination through root cause corrective action verification on subsequent hardware. Lead root cause investigations for mechanisms anomalies across design, manufacturing, and test phases. - Prepare and maintain detailed assurance documentation including assurance plans, risk mitigation strategies, nonconformance dispositions, waiver and deviation packages, and compliance reports. - Conduct or coordinate vendor surveillance activities for flight-critical mechanism suppliers including review of build records and acceptance test data prior to receiving inspection. - Track in-family data trends across the mechanisms fleet and spacecraft production line. Participate in anomaly reviews and own corrective action tracking to verified closure. - Maintain the mechanisms-specific lessons learned register. Verify corrective action implementation on subsequent hardware — closure requires physical verification, not documentation alone. Required Qualifications Education - Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline. ## Experience - 3+ years in flight/mission assurance, quality engineering, or reliability engineering with direct involvement in aerospace hardware. - Demonstrated experience with mechanical system anomaly investigation, nonconformance disposition, and qualification test witnessing. ## Preferred Qualifications - Working knowledge of mechanisms-specific standards: AIAA S-114, ECSS-E-ST-33-01C, NASA-HDBK-7005, NASA-STD-5017, NASA-STD-5001, MIL-STD-1540. - Experience with high-volume production environment at monthly launch cadence. - Direct experience with flight spacecraft mechanisms. - Experience with reliability analysis tools or systems engineering tools. - Hands-on involvement in TVAC, vibration, shock, or life testing of mechanical flight hardware. - Familiarity with control requirements and limited-life item tracking for mechanical components. Soft Skills - Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to prepare nonconformance dispositions, test anomaly reports, waivers, deviations, and assurance documentation. - Strong organizational and subsystem-level project management abilities. - Demonstrated capability to represent Flight Assurance independently in design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and test environments. - Detail-oriented, analytical mindset with electromechanical system failure mode intuition and strong problem-solving skills. Technology Stack - MS Office Suite - Risk and reliability analysis tools - PLM or document control systems (e.g., Windchill, Autodesk PLM, Jira) - CAD viewing tools (CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent) for drawing and model review - Data analysis or visualization tools (preferred) Physical Requirements - Ability to work in a standard office environment. - Ability to use a computer for extended periods. - Regular support in cleanroom, lab, and manufacturing environments required; ESD and contamination control protocol compliance mandatory. This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands. 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. ## About AST SpaceMobile ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard, unmodified smartphones. - **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: ASTS) - **Headquarters**: Midland, Texas, USA - **Founded**: 2017 - **Founders**: Abel Avellan ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Space-based telecommunications / Satellite broadband - **Target customers**: B2B (mobile network operators), B2C (indirectly through MNOs), and government/defense agencies - **Mission**: To eliminate connectivity gaps faced by today’s nearly six billion mobile subscribers and bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected using a space-based cellular network. ## Products & Services - **[SpaceMobile Network]**: A space-based cellular broadband network that delivers 4G/5G connectivity directly to standard smartphones without any hardware modifications, apps, or software updates. - **[BlueBird Satellites]**: The company’s commercial satellite constellation, designed to provide full broadband coverage globally. BlueBird satellites are among the largest commercial communications arrays in low Earth orbit. - **[BlueWalker 3]**: The prototype satellite used to demonstrate world-first voice, 5G, and video calls from space to ordinary phones. - **[Government & Defense Solutions]**: Tailored connectivity for tactical and public safety applications (e.g., FirstNet tests, government contracts). ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Market capitalization exceeded $8 billion as of August 2024 (stock price ~$38.60). More recent figures are not publicly available but the company has raised over $2 billion as of Q2 2025. - **Key Metric (Total Funding)**: Over $2 billion raised (debt and equity) as of Q2 2025. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Vodafone, Rakuten, American Tower, Samsung Next, Cisneros, Google (product partnership), AT&T, Verizon, FirstNet Authority. - **Growth Signals**: - Partnerships with nearly 60 mobile network operators covering ~3 billion combined subscribers. - Successfully completed first VoLTE voice calls, video calls, and 5G data connections using standard smartphones via satellite. - First public safety tests on FirstNet (Jan 2024) and first activation for government defense use cases (June 2025). - Commercial contract with Vodafone through 2034 for Europe and Africa. - 578 employees as of 2024; expanding manufacturing and office footprint globally. ## Competitive Advantages - **First-mover**: Only company offering direct-to-smartphone satellite broadband with no specialized hardware or software required. - **Patent Moat**: Over 3,800 patents and pending claims protecting proprietary technology. - **MNO Integration**: Deep partnerships with major global operators enable seamless integration with existing terrestrial networks. - **Satellite Scale**: BlueBird satellites feature large phased-array antennas (BlueWalker 3 array is 693 sq ft), providing a field of view over 300,000 sq miles. ## Strategic Focus - **Constellation Deployment**: Rapidly launching and operationalizing the BlueBird satellite fleet to start generating significant commercial revenue. - **Global Coverage Expansion**: Targeting full service across multiple continents, with a focus on remote and underserved regions. - **Government & Defense**: Broadening contracts for secure, tactical connectivity. - **Technology Advancement**: Continued R&D on next-generation satellite capabilities and network optimization. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Fast-growing company with a startup mindset; employees are encouraged to wear many hats and tackle meaningful challenges. - **Global Presence**: Offices in Midland (TX), Homestead (FL), Miami (FL), Lanham (MD), Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Hyderabad, and other locations. - **Impact**: Opportunity to work on a historic transformation in global connectivity, directly connecting billions of people. - **Perks & Environment**: Nearly 500,000 sq ft of manufacturing and office facilities; emphasis on innovation, autonomy, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. - **Career Growth**: Open positions listed on Greenhouse; values proactive, passionate innovators. ## Sources 1. [AST SpaceMobile Official Website](https://ast-science.com) 2. [AST SpaceMobile Company Page](https://ast-science.com/company/) 3. [AST SpaceMobile Careers Page](https://ast-science.com/company/careers/) 4. [AST SpaceMobile Investor Relations](https://investors.ast-science.com/) 5. 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