AST SpaceMobile and our global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. Called SpaceMobile, this ultra-powerful network is being designed to provide connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet – on land, at sea and in flight.

Position Overview

The System \ SW Test team at AST SpaceMobile is responsible for verifying and validating the embedded software that runs aboard all spacecraft in the AST fleet. We are seeking a junior Test Software Engineer with AOCS (Attitude & Orbit Control System) domain knowledge to join our India-based System \ SW Testing team and contribute to the verification and validation of flight software that implements attitude and orbit control functions.

In this role, you will develop and maintain automated FSW (Flight Software) test frameworks and your controls domain background will allow you to write meaningful tests, interpret results in physical terms, and work effectively with both the FSW and AOCS engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain automated test scripts and frameworks in Python and MATLAB
Implement and execute unit, integration, and software-in-the-loop (SIL) tests for AOCS algorithms including attitude control laws, momentum management, and thruster firing logic
Review and debug C++ flight software modules to identify and trace defects revealed by test execution or on-orbit telemetry analysis related to attitude sensors
Maintain and improve test infrastructure, including simulation environments, truth models, and automated reporting pipelines.
Document test results, anomaly reports, and lessons learned in Jira and internal knowledge-management systems.
Serve as a bridge between the FSW and AOCS teams, translating AOCS domain requirements into testable software acceptance criteria and communicating test findings in terms meaningful to both teams.
Coordinate with US-based FSW and AOCS Flight Engineering counterparts to align on test coverage, software interface requirements, and operational procedures.
Monitor operator compliance with AOCS test processes and support continuous improvement of ground verification methodologies.

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
Coursework in orbital mechanics, control systems, or spacecraft dynamics is strongly preferred.

Required Qualifications

1–3 years of relevant experience in control systems, estimation theory, flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, or simulation-driven validation.
Some hands-on experience with Python, including scripting and data analysis
Familiarity with MATLAB and/or Simulink sufficient to run simulations and analyze numerical results.
Exposure to C++; ability to read and follow flight software code with guidance.
Foundational understanding of control systems theory (e.g. closed-loop dynamics, PID controllers, or state-space concepts).
Introductory knowledge of orbital mechanics (e.g. Keplerian orbits, reference frames, coordinate transformations)
Awareness of attitude representations such as Euler angles, rotation matrices, or quaternions, at a conceptual level.
Analytical mindset with attention to detail and a willingness to learn in a fast-moving engineering environment.
Communicates clearly in written and spoken English; comfortable asking questions and collaborating with remote teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience writing automated test frameworks or continuous integration pipelines for embedded or real-time software.
Familiarity with spacecraft sensors and actuators for attitude determination and control systems including star trackers, IMUs, reaction wheels, magnetorquers, or thrusters.
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SIL) test environments.
Exposure to spacecraft telemetry tools, ground software, or mission operations environments.
Knowledge of estimation theory
Experience using Jira or similar issue-tracking and project-management tools.