Director - Service Acceptance at AST SpaceMobile

United States

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. We are seeking a Director of Service Acceptance to lead the strategy, governance, and end-to-end execution of service validation across complex network and infrastructure deployments. This role is responsible for ensuring that all lab and field validation activities meet defined performance standards, service level agreements (SLAs), and regulatory requirements prior to launch and commercial activation. The Director will lead a global team and establish scalable acceptance frameworks, driving consistency, automation, and quality across multiple environments and partner ecosystems. This role will collaborate closely with engineering, operations, and external stakeholders to ensure readiness, minimize defects, and enable successful service delivery. Key Responsibilities: Define and own the overall service acceptance strategy, governance model, and execution roadmap Lead and develop a global team of acceptance managers, test leads, and engineers across multiple regions Establish validation standards, acceptance criteria, and structured test frameworks Oversee execution of validation activities including regression, interoperability, and performance testing Ensure acceptance processes meet defined performance requirements, SLAs, and compliance standards Develop and implement automation strategies for regression and acceptance testing Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure alignment across system integration, deployment, and validation efforts Manage engagement with external partners and ensure successful integration and validation across multiple systems Drive defect tracking, root cause analysis (RCA), and resolution workflows to ensure high-quality outcomes Ensure readiness documentation, test results, and acceptance artifacts are complete and auditable Lead transition of accepted services into operational environments, ensuring stability and readiness Provide executive-level reporting on acceptance progress, risks, and performance metrics Drive continuous improvement of validation processes, frameworks, and operational efficiency Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field Advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred Experience: A minimum of 12+ yearsof experience in telecommunications, systems integration, network deployment, or service validation Demonstrated experience in leading technical teams across multiple regions or projects Proven experience managing complex, multi-site or multi-environment validation and deployment efforts Experience working across cross-functional teams and external partners Preferred Qualifications: Experience with large-scale network or infrastructure deployments Familiarity with system integration, interoperability testing, and performance validation Experience working in multi-vendor or partner-driven environments Knowledge of regulatory, compliance, or certification processes Experience implementing validation automation frameworks Exposure to lab and field validation environments Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal and leadership skills Proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy of documentation and deliverables Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments Strong decision-making and stakeholder management skills Technology Stack: Test and validation platforms and frameworks Automation tools and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins or similar) Defect tracking and workflow tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, or equivalent) Data analysis and reporting tools (dashboards, analytics platforms) Scripting or automation tools (e.g., Python or similar) System monitoring and performance validation tools Lab and integration testing environments Physical Requirements Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods Ability to support lab-based testing and validation activities as needed Willingness to travel occasionally for deployment validation, partner engagements, or reviews Ability to collaborate across global teams and time zones 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.