Director, Partner Technical Management

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 OverviewWe are seeking a Director of Partner Technical Leads to provide technical leadership and coordination across our global telco partnership technical teams. This role manages and synchronizes partner technical leads, ensuring consistent engineering excellence and standardized processes across Global Tier 1 Telcos maintaining technical authority for complex multi-partner integration challenges.This is a senior technical leadership position requiring deep satellite-cellular integration expertise, strong people management skills, and the ability to coordinate technical excellence across diverse partnership requirements and timelines. The ideal candidate will bring proven experience leading customer-facing support and deployment programs at scale.This role operates at the intersection of advanced satellite technology and global telecommunications, requiring both technical depth and leadership breadth. Success requires balancing technical excellence with business pragmatism while managing complex stakeholder relationships across customers, vendors, and internal teams.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & Team ManagementLead and develop team of partner technical leads supporting major telco partnerships globallyProvide technical mentorship, career development, and performance management for technical lead teamEnsure consistent engineering standards and technical practices across all partner engagementsCoordinate technical resource allocation and expertise distribution based on partnership prioritiesPartner closely with R&D RAN Validation engineering teams to align lab capabilities, testing strategies, and resource planning with evolving customer requirements and deployment roadmapsCross-Partner Technical StandardizationImplement unified engineering processes, integration methodologies, and troubleshooting standardsCoordinate technical decisions affecting multiple partners or requiring centralized architecture alignmentEstablish technical governance framework ensuring quality and consistency across partnershipsDrive knowledge sharing and best practice adoption between different telco technical teamsIntegration & Deployment ExcellenceProvide technical oversight for complex multi-partner deployments and integration challengesCoordinate technical troubleshooting during critical deployment phases across service delivery teamsEnsure technical readiness and validation processes meet partner requirements and company standardsManage technical escalations and coordinate resolution with functional domain experts and R&D teamsPerformance Governance & AnalyticsTrack technical KPIs, integration success metrics, and partner technical satisfaction scoresDevelop technical performance dashboards and report for VP-level leadership visibilityIdentify technical process improvements and efficiency opportunities across partnership portfolioCoordinate capacity planning and technical resource forecasting for partnership growthStrategic Technical CoordinationInterface with functional technology directors on cross-domain technical requirements and solutionsProvide technical input to partnership strategy and new business development initiativesCoordinate technical due diligence and feasibility assessments for new partnership opportunitiesEnsure technical team alignment with company technology strategy and competitive positioningQualificationsEducationBachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Telecommunications, Systems Engineering, or related technical fieldMaster's degree in engineering management or advanced technical discipline preferredExperienceMinimum 15+ years in telecommunications, satellite communications, or wireless network engineering5+ years managing technical teams in customer-facing or partnership environmentsProven experience with complex systems integration and multi-vendor technology deploymentsRequired Technical ExpertiseDeep understanding of RAN technologies, core network protocols, and telecommunications standardsStrong knowledge of end-to-end satellite-cellular network architecture and integrationExperience with multi-gateway, multi-beam satellite systems and terrestrial network interconnectionProven track record troubleshooting complex technical issues in production network environmentsPreferred QualificationsExperience with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and 3GPP standardsBackground in technical leadership roles at tier 1 MNOs, major system integrators, and satellite operatorsExperience managing technical relationships with major telecomKnowledge of regulatory requirements and spectrum management across multiple regionsTrack record leading technical teams supporting revenue-generating partnerships exceeding $100MLeadership & Communication SkillsStrong technical leadership with ability to influence and mentor senior engineering talentExceptional communication skills for technical presentations to executive and customer audiencesProven ability to coordinate complex technical initiatives across multiple stakeholder groupsExperience building scalable technical processes and organizational capabilitiesTechnology StackProficiency with network management systems, performance monitoring, and analytics platformsExperience with collaborative engineering tools and technical documentation systemsFamiliarity with Agile/DevOps practices for technical delivery and continuous improvementPhysical RequirementsRegular travel for partner technical meetings, on-site troubleshooting, and team coordination (~50%)Ability to support technical escalations across global time zones including occasional off-hours supportThis 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.

Created: 2026-04-02