Front Desk Security- Shift 3

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 Front Desk Security Officer is responsible for executing daily physical security operations at primary facility entry points within an aerospace manufacturing environment. This role focuses on controlling ingress and egress, enforcing access governance, protecting export-controlled and IP-sensitive areas, and ensuring the safety of employees, visitors, and high-value assets including prototypes and flight hardware.

The position serves as the first line of defense for facility security and operates in close coordination with Corporate Security, EH&S, Facilities, HR, IT, and Program Leadership to maintain controlled access, regulatory compliance, and life safety standards.

This position is currently assigned to a weekend day shift working Friday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (3x12 schedule)

The location will be at one of our four facilities located between Odessa and Midland.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Physical Security Management

• Design, implement, and maintain comprehensive physical security programs across manufacturing, R&D, integration, test, and corporate facilities.
• Conduct recurring risk assessments, threat analyses, and vulnerability audits, with focus on restricted manufacturing areas, program-controlled spaces, and IP-dense environments.
• Oversee security infrastructure including CCTV, electronic access control systems, intrusion detection, alarms, perimeter security, lighting, and monitoring platforms.
• Establish and enforce enterprise security standards, policies, and procedures aligned with aerospace regulatory, contractual, and customer requirements.

Ingress and Egress Control Governance

• Architect and manage secure ingress and egress processes controlling movement of employees, contractors, visitors, customers, and vendors.
• Administer enterprise access control programs including badging, biometrics, key control, escorting procedures, and visitor management systems.
• Define zoning strategies, tiered access levels, and program-specific restrictions for sensitive manufacturing, R&D, and test environments.
• Partner with Facilities, IT, HR, and Program Management to ensure access provisioning and deprovisioning align with onboarding, transfers, program assignments, and terminations.
• Lead emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place planning, ensuring life safety measures do not compromise controlled or classified assets.

Intellectual Property (IP) Protection

• Implement physical safeguards protecting export-controlled technologies, proprietary designs, trade secrets, prototypes, tooling, and flight hardware.
• Establish secure handling, storage, transport, and destruction protocols for sensitive materials and physical media.
• Coordinate with Legal, Compliance, IT Security, and Program Leadership to ensure physical controls align with ITAR/EAR and contractual obligations.
• Monitor, investigate, and remediate suspected IP compromise or unauthorized physical access incidents.
• Support internal and external audits related to controlled areas, asset accountability, and IP protection frameworks.

Incident Response and Investigations

• Lead security incident response for events impacting personnel safety, restricted facilities, export-controlled programs, prototypes, and hardware in coordination with EH&S leadership.
• Operate within a joint Security-EH&S incident command structure prioritizing life safety, IP containment, regulatory compliance, and program continuity.
• Conduct investigations related to unauthorized access, IP compromise, injuries within secure areas, or environmental incidents impacting restricted spaces.
• Integrate EH&S root cause analysis methodologies with security investigations to address systemic breakdowns in both life safety and physical controls.
• Ensure evidence preservation, chain of custody, and documentation meet regulatory, contractual, and customer standards.
• Lead containment actions including access lockdowns, badge audits, material accountability checks, and secure storage verification.
• Co-author corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) addressing facility hardening, zoning improvements, access control enhancements, and secure material handling processes.
• Plan and execute joint drills and tabletop exercises addressing aerospace-specific threat scenarios.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management

• Manage third-party security providers, guard services, and security technology vendors.
• Establish performance standards, KPIs, service level agreements, and cost controls.
• Serve as primary liaison to EH&S, Facilities, HR, Legal, IT, Engineering, Program Management, and executive leadership on physical security matters.

Training and Security Culture

• Develop and deliver security and IP protection training for employees, contractors, and visitors.
• Promote a culture of shared accountability for security, compliance, and asset protection.
• Advise leadership on emerging threats, insider risk trends, and evolving physical security best practices impacting aerospace operations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Security Management, Criminal Justice, Risk Management, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Military or government physical security credentials acceptable in lieu of formal education.

Experience

• 7+ years of progressive experience in enterprise physical security, preferably within aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience securing IP-dense, export-controlled, or restricted manufacturing facilities.
• Strong operational knowledge of electronic access control systems, CCTV platforms, investigations, and incident command frameworks.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional investigations and managing high-impact security incidents.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP (Certified Protection Professional), PSP (Physical Security Professional), or equivalent certification.
• Direct experience supporting ITAR/EAR or classified programs.
• Familiarity with EH&S management systems, CAPA methodologies, and regulatory audit processes.
• Experience operating in multi-site or program-centric aerospace organizations.

Soft Skills

• Executive-level communication and stakeholder management capability.
• High integrity and discretion handling sensitive and export-controlled information.
• Analytical and risk-based decision-making approach.
• Strong crisis leadership and structured incident management capability.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams in high-consequence environments.

Technology Stack

• Enterprise Access Control Systems (e.g., badge systems, biometric platforms)
• CCTV and video management systems
• Incident reporting and investigation platforms
• Visitor management systems
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Security analytics and monitoring tools

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk manufacturing floors, R&D labs, and test facilities regularly.
• Ability to respond onsite to incidents during non-standard hours as required.
• Capability to participate in emergency drills and facility assessments.

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.