AST SpaceMobile

🔎 At a glance

Company Name: AST SpaceMobile
Location: Midland, Texas
Founded: 2017
Shop Type: Aerospace and Space Technology Manufacturer
Industries Served: Space • Telecommunications • Aerospace • Government
Production Style: High-Volume Production • Advanced Manufacturing
Machining Capabilities: 5-Axis CNC Milling • Composite Machining
Materials: CFRP • Advanced Aerospace Composites
Facility: Part of more than 500,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space

🏭 About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is building a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly to standard, unmodified smartphones. Its BlueBird satellites are being developed to provide 4G and 5G connectivity without requiring specialized devices or additional hardware.

Founded in Midland, Texas, in 2017, the company has grown into an international space technology organization with more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities in the United States and abroad. Its Midland operations serve as the center of a vertically integrated manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing operation.

AST SpaceMobile’s work brings together aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, electronics, composites, quality, and production. The company’s BlueBird 1–5 satellites were built with 95% vertical integration across its Midland facilities, giving manufacturing employees a direct role in producing hardware that ultimately operates in space.

For CNC programmers and manufacturing professionals, this is an opportunity to work somewhere very different from a traditional machine shop. The parts, processes, and production challenges support a larger mission: expanding cellular broadband access to people and places that remain difficult to connect.

AST SpaceMobile continues to scale its satellite production capabilities in Midland. That growth creates opportunities for experienced manufacturing professionals who can improve throughput, establish repeatable processes, solve difficult technical problems, and help move complex aerospace components into reliable production.

👍 Why you'll like working here

AST SpaceMobile offers the chance to apply high-level CNC programming and manufacturing expertise to technology that will ultimately operate in space.

The Midland operation combines startup energy with a growing, vertically integrated manufacturing footprint. Experienced programmers are expected to do more than generate toolpaths. They can influence tooling, fixtures, process controls, programming standards, cycle times, quality, and the way work moves from engineering into production.

The work is technically demanding. You may be developing 5-axis programs for aerospace-grade CFRP components, preventing delamination, qualifying advanced cutting tools, improving vacuum workholding, or solving production problems that directly affect satellite output.

This is a strong fit for someone who enjoys ownership and wants the freedom to improve how a manufacturing process works. Senior team members also have the opportunity to mentor other programmers, establish shop-wide standards, and help build stronger manufacturing capabilities as production grows.

Most importantly, the work has a clear purpose. The components produced in Midland support a satellite network designed to provide cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones around the world.

⚙️ What you'll be working on

The CNC manufacturing work in Midland supports aerospace-grade composite components used in AST SpaceMobile’s satellite production operations.

Current programming needs are centered on 5-axis machining of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and other advanced composites. The work includes developing and validating multi-axis programs for trimming, drilling, countersinking, and edge finishing while protecting dimensional accuracy and Class-A cosmetic quality.

Programmers may take ownership of the complete process, including CAM programming, simulation, tooling selection, feeds and speeds, fixture strategy, vacuum workholding, process documentation, and production troubleshooting.

Because this is a growing production environment, the focus is not only on making one good part. The goal is to create stable, repeatable processes that increase throughput, minimize tool wear, prevent delamination, and maintain consistent quality across higher production volumes.

The role also involves close collaboration with Engineering, Quality, and Production leadership to improve yields, reduce cycle times, and move components reliably from CAD to finished production parts.

⭐ Shop highlights

• Advanced space and aerospace manufacturing
• Founded in Midland, Texas, in 2017
• More than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities
• Vertically integrated satellite production
• Complex 5-axis composite machining
• Aerospace-grade CFRP components
• High-volume production environment
• Advanced PCD, diamond, and ceramic tooling
• Opportunity to establish CNC programming standards
• Direct collaboration with Engineering, Quality, and Production
• Work that supports a global space-based communications network

🛠️ Machines & technology

5-Axis CNC Machining

Multi-axis CNC milling equipment used for trimming, drilling, countersinking, and finishing advanced composite components.

CAM, CAD & Manufacturing Software

• Mastercam
• Autodesk Fusion
• Autodesk Inventor
• Autodesk Vault
• AutoCAD
• Multi-axis simulation and process validation

Tooling & Workholding

• PCD and diamond cutting tools
• Ceramic cutting tools
• Composite fixtures
• Vacuum fixtures and vacuum systems
• Specialized tooling for CFRP machining

Composite Manufacturing

• Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer
• Advanced aerospace composites
• Composite dust-extraction systems
• High-volume Class-A component production

📏 Quality & inspection

AST SpaceMobile’s composite machining processes require strong blueprint-reading and GD&T skills, multi-axis program validation, and careful control of dimensional and cosmetic quality. CNC programmers work closely with Engineering, Quality, and Production to prevent delamination, reduce variation, improve yield, and establish repeatable processes for aerospace-grade production components.

💼 Current CNC career opportunities

• Senior 5-Axis CNC Programmer

View current opportunities and apply through hireCNC.