Product Manager - Device Platform

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 Product Manager for the Platform Device Team owns end‑to‑end device platform readiness for satellite–cellular interoperability. This role ensures that commercial handsets, firmware builds, RF subsystems, automation agents, and OSS/CIQ configuration hooks mature to field‑ready performance levels required for satellite‑direct‑to‑device (D2D) services.

A key aspect of this role involves building and governing automated device‑testing capabilities—including Android app–based automation, ADB‑driven test configuration, remote log collection/parsing over Wi‑Fi or Ethernet, and frameworks for designing/executing automated UE tests at scale. The Product Manager will work closely with engineering teams to ensure automated systems accelerate readiness, improve repeatability, and reduce manual touchpoints.

You will coordinate across device OEMs, chipset vendors, RF labs, automation partners, acceptance teams, and satellite network engineering to guarantee that every device variant meets stringent performance, quality, and compliance gates for commercial launch.

This role blends deep technical product leadership, device‑ecosystem expertise, automation‑framework experience, and cross‑functional execution to bring next‑generation satellite connectivity to mass‑market smartphones.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of device engineering, automation tooling, and product leadership. The Product Manager must be comfortable collaborating with OEMs and chipset vendors while also working hands‑on with ADB, automation frameworks, and device‑side agents to validate readiness at scale.

The ability to design and orchestrate remote, automated device tests, including log capture, parsing, UE configuration, and test scheduling, is essential for accelerating readiness and ensuring reliability across diverse device variants and firmware states.

Key Responsibilities

Device Platform Readiness & Acceptance

• Own the device readiness roadmap, aligning firmware, modem, RF capabilities, automation hooks, and CIQ/OSS dependencies.

• Define, publish, and maintain Device Acceptance Packs, including:

• Automated test scripts

• ADB based configuration steps

• PLMN/CIQ profiles

• Regression/telemetry test cases

• GCF aligned scenarios

• Drive firmware gate management and acceptance gating, validating modem logs, KPIs, and regression behaviors.

• Ensure CIQ driven configuration compliance (APNs, timers, PLMN rulesets, persistence, bearer mapping, fallback logic).

Automation, App‑Based Testing & ADB‑Driven Workflows

• Lead development and evolution of Android app or agent‑based automation capabilities for UE test orchestration.

• Use ADB to configure tests, push/pull logs, trigger scenarios, apply parameter changes, and manage test execution.

• Design frameworks allowing remote test design, scheduling, execution, and automated log retrieval/analysis over Wi‑Fi/Ethernet.

• Collaborate with automation engineers to convert manual workflows into scalable automated test pipelines.

• Ensure automation capabilities support KPI extraction, satellite‑specific scenarios, and real‑world mobility/signal constraints.

Lab Coordination & Technical Validation

• Coordinate with internal/external labs to validate probe compatibility, satellite waveform handling, and test harness readiness.

• Ensure consistency of RF/OTA/SATCOM test results across labs, traceability systems, OEM deliverables, and automation outputs.

• Monitor device behavior under satellite constraints (latency, Doppler, low SINR, gateway switching) and drive closure of technical issues.

Performance, Quality, and Issue Management

• Establish persistence SLO instrumentation, telemetry hooks, and automated metric collection across devices.

• Lead defect triage and escalation with OEMs, chipset vendors, and internal engineering teams; validate fixes via automated re‑runs.

• Improve FPA/SPA acceptance rates through structured gating, test automation, and deeper vendor integration.

Cross‑Functional Product Leadership

• Serve as primary device‑readiness interface for satellite engineering, RF systems, NOC, system performance, labs, operations, and commercial product.

• Translate system‑level requirements into device‑level acceptance criteria, automation needs, and KPI thresholds.

• Provide launch readiness updates, known‑issue disclosures, and device‑availability timelines to cross‑functional stakeholders.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, or related field.

• Master’s degree preferred.

Preferred

• Product or Technical Program Management experience supporting device platforms or modem‑integrated products.

• Experience with ADB automation, Android app/tool development, UE automation agents, or device test orchestration frameworks.

• Prior involvement in defining device acceptance criteria, readiness frameworks, and firmware‑gate processes.

• Experience collaborating with chipset vendors, OEMs, labs, or device‑QA/test automation teams.

• Familiarity with satellite‑cellular interoperability, NTN profiles, or low‑SINR RF behaviors is a strong plus.

• Ability to translate system‑performance needs into device‑test KPIs and automation requirements.

Cross‑Functional Interfaces

• Internal: RF Systems Engineering, Satellite Network Engineering, Device Engineering, Labs & Test, NOC/Operations, System Performance, Program Management, Market Enablement, Commercial Product, Data/Analytics.

• External: Chipset vendors (Qualcomm, MTK, Samsung), OEM device manufacturers, test‑equipment vendors (Keysight, Anritsu), automation partners, certification bodies, operator‑ecosystem partners.

Tools / Standards / Methods

• Automation & ADB Tools: ADB scripting, Android automation SDKs, device‑side agents, Wi‑Fi/Ethernet remote execution pipelines

• Log Analysis: QXDM, QCAT, TEMS, MTK/HiSilicon tools, AT‑command utilities, custom parsers

• Test & Validation: RF/OTA/SATCOM waveform tools, conformance frameworks, automated test harnesses

• Product/Workflow: Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence, requirements‑management systems

• Configuration/CIQ: PLMN/APN/timer‑parameter tools, CIQ editing, configuration governance systems

• Automation Frameworks: Automated KPI extraction, regression validation, configuration‑compliance tracking

Performance Metrics

Success measured by:

• Device First‑Pass Acceptance Rate (FPA).

• Firmware Gate Compliance & regression escape rate.

• CIQ/Configuration Compliance Score.

• Automated test execution coverage & efficiency gains.

• Reduction in manual testing cycles.

• Issue Turnaround Time (TAT) with OEMs/chipset vendors.

• Launch Readiness On‑Time Delivery across market milestones.

• Cross‑team satisfaction and milestone adherence.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in lab environments (RF chambers, test harnesses, device‑validation setups).

• Occasional travel to partner labs, OEMs, or field‑testing locations.

• Comfortable with extended log‑analysis and test‑execution sessions.

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.