Sr. Principal Device Validation Engineer
AST SpaceMobile · Dallas, TX
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Quality
- Travel
- 35%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 12+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 6 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior quality role at AST SpaceMobile (aerospace & defense) in Dallas, TX. Hands-on experience validating mobile devices, modem technologies, or wireless communication platforms.
- They ask for
- 12+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation, Time studies
- Day to day
- about 35% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $90k–$126k.
Median of the low and high ends of 26 live postings that list pay, out of 120 quality engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 119 other live quality postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (12+ vs 3+)
Typical $90k–$121k, from 25 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 56%
- Lean 31%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 28%
- FMEA 28%
- ✓ New product launch 28%
- Six Sigma 25%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Time studies, Python, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at AST SpaceMobile
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting says about 35% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: AST SpaceMobile in Dallas
2 other open roles at this site.
- Principal Automation and AI Operations Engineer · Controls · Senior
- SAT Ops Process Engineer · Process
Full description from AST SpaceMobileAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Own device validation strategy for operator onboarding programs, including device selection, test planning, certification requirements, and compatibility tracking
- ◆Lead laboratory and field validation efforts for commercial mobile devices, including connectivity, mobility, throughput, latency, application performance, and user experience testing
- ◆Collaborate with chipset vendors and device manufacturers to resolve device, modem, firmware, and interoperability issues
- ◆Serve as the primary technical lead during customer workshops, testing events, device validation activities, and technical reviews
- ◆Define device readiness criteria, acceptance standards, test methodologies, and launch
requirements
- ✓Analyze modem logs, protocol traces, RF measurements, and performance data to identify root causes and resolve technical issues
- ✓Manage the device defect lifecycle from identification through validation and resolution
- ✓Maintain device compatibility matrices and certification documentation
- ✓Develop and present technical reports, readiness assessments, executive summaries, and performance recommendations
- ✓Partner with internal engineering teams to improve device performance, validation processes, and customer onboarding activities
- ✓Support field trials, proof-of-concept programs, beta deployments, and commercial launch readiness activities
- ✓Mentor technical teams on device behavior, performance characteristics, and troubleshooting methodologies
Education
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
- ✓Master's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline preferred.
Experience
- ✓Minimum 12 years of experience in mobile device validation, chipset validation, device certification, wireless testing, or device-focused field engineering
- ✓Minimum 5 years of experience serving in a senior technical lead, principal engineer, or equivalent leadership capacity
- ✓Hands-on experience validating mobile devices, modem technologies, or wireless communication platforms
- ✓Strong understanding of LTE technologies, signaling procedures, device connectivity, mobility management, and wireless performance analysis
- ✓Working knowledge of 5G technologies and next-generation wireless architectures
- ✓Proven experience working directly with chipset manufacturers, device OEMs, or wireless operators to resolve technical issues
- ✓Experience presenting technical findings and recommendations to customers, operators, and executive stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Experience with non-terrestrial networks, satellite communications, or direct-to-device wireless technologies
- ✓Experience supporting commercial device certification and carrier acceptance programs
- ✓Familiarity with IMS, VoLTE, VoNR, SIM, and eSIM technologies
- ✓Experience with test automation and scripting using Python or similar languages
- ✓Experience supporting international operator deployments and device certification initiatives
- ✓Additional language skills supporting global customer engagements
Requirements
- ✓Ability to work in a standard office, laboratory, and testing environment while using computers and test equipment for extended periods
- ✓Ability to review technical documentation, test results, protocol logs, and engineering reports
- ✓Ability to participate in customer-facing meetings, workshops, testing events, and technical reviews
- ✓Ability to remain stationary for extended periods while performing analysis, validation, and troubleshooting activities
- ✓Domestic and international travel of approximately 25–35% as required to support customer e
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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
We are seeking a Sr. Principal Device Validation Engineer to lead device readiness and validation activities for direct-to-device wireless communication services. This role is responsible for ensuring commercial mobile devices operate successfully across the network by working closely with chipset manufacturers, device OEMs, and mobile network operators to validate performance, troubleshoot issues, and drive device certification efforts.
The ideal candidate combines deep mobile device and modem expertise with strong customer-facing capabilities, serving as a trusted technical advisor during device validation, field testing, onboarding, and commercial launch activities.
Soft Skills
- •Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- •Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- •Strong customer-facing presentation and relationship management skills
- •Ability to communicate complex technical topics to both engineering and executive audiences
- •Proven ability to influence external partners and stakeholders without direct authority
- •Strong organizational and project management capabilities
- •Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to technical accuracy
- •Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, highly collaborative environments
- •Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple customers, projects, and technical teams
Technology Stack
- •Device logging and protocol analysis tools
- •Modem diagnostics and troubleshooting platforms
- •Wireshark
- •Drive testing and network measurement tools
- •RF test equipment and over-the-air (OTA) validation systems
- •Spectrum analyzers
- •Channel emulators
- •RF shield box systems
- •LTE and 5G testing platforms
- •Open5GS or comparable core network environments
- •Network performance and traffic analysis tools
- •Python
- •Jira
- •Confluence
- •Data analysis and reporting tools
- •Microsoft Office Suite
Physical