Strategic Finance & Performance Manager

About this role

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 Strategic Finance & Performance Manager (Network Planning & Analytics) is responsible for developing financial models, forecasting deployment costs, and driving performance analytics to support capital‑efficient satellite‑RAN planning. This role ensures financial alignment with rollout priorities, investment decisions, and the broader global network expansion strategy.

By integrating financial modeling with system‑level performance insights, the Strategic Finance & Performance Manager delivers critical analysis on deployment economics, cost drivers, and performance trade‑offs. This role directly shapes investment prioritization, deployment sequencing, and long‑term network planning decisions—ensuring financial discipline while enabling scalable, data‑driven global network growth.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Modeling & Forecasting

• Lead development of detailed financial models supporting satellite‑RAN rollout, cost planning, and long‑term investment strategies.

• Create deployment cost forecasts, scenario models, and financial projections aligned with network planning milestones.

• Assess financial impacts of rollout sequencing, system architecture decisions, and network design trade‑offs.

Deployment Economics & Investment Analysis

• Evaluate economics of market entry, site deployment, satellite‑RAN integration, and scaling approaches.

• Analyze capital efficiency across deployment phases, technologies, and market geographies.

• Support investment prioritization by comparing ROI, payback, unit economics, and cost‑per‑coverage metrics.

Performance Analytics & Operational Insights

• Develop performance analytics frameworks that link financial outcomes with engineering and operational performance.

• Identify drivers of deployment cost variance, efficiency gaps, and value‑creation levers across the network plan.

• Translate performance insights into actionable recommendations for system‑level planning and portfolio optimization.

Cross‑Functional Strategy Alignment

• Collaborate with engineering, network planning, procurement, and operations to align financial models with technical realities.

• Work closely with strategy and program teams to integrate financial inputs into deployment timelines and global expansion plans.

• Provide financial guidance during design changes, rollout strategy adjustments, and major architecture decisions.

Stakeholder Reporting & Strategic Support

• Deliver financial insights, dashboards, and presentations that support executive decision‑making.

• Provide finance‑driven recommendations for rollout sequencing, vendor decisions, and geographic prioritization.

• Support long‑term business planning, budgeting cycles, and capital allocation reviews.

Deliverables

Primary Contract Deliverables:

• Comprehensive financial models for satellite‑RAN rollout scenarios, cost forecasts, and long‑term planning.

• Deployment economics analyses including ROI, IRR, unit economics, and capital efficiency assessments.

• Performance analytics reports linking financial outcomes with engineering and operational metrics.

• Monthly or quarterly financial dashboards supporting leadership decision‑making.

• Investment prioritization frameworks and recommendations for market sequencing.

• Cost variance analyses and efficiency improvement insights for ongoing deployment programs.

• Budget inputs, forecast updates, and financial support for multi‑year network planning cycles.

• Financial review packages for network planning milestones and architectural decision checkpoints.

• Consolidated cross‑functional financial insights integrating engineering, planning, and business strategy inputs.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, engineering, or a related analytical field.

• Master’s degree (MBA, MS Finance, or similar) preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in strategic finance, corporate finance, FP&A, investment analysis, or performance analytics.

• Experience in telecommunications, network planning, satellite systems, or large‑scale infrastructure industries.

• Proven record of developing complex financial models and supporting capital deployment decisions.

• Prior experience with telecom network cost modeling, satellite/RAN economics, or infrastructure investment planning is a strong advantage.

• Background supporting multi‑market or global expansion strategies is beneficial.

Required Technical Expertise

• Expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and scenario analysis.

• Strong understanding of unit economics, cost modeling, ROI/IRR calculations, and capital efficiency metrics.

• Ability to interpret engineering inputs (network design, deployment phases, system trade‑offs) and convert them into financial frameworks.

• Experience with performance analytics, data interpretation, and metric development.

• Advanced command of Excel, financial modeling tools, and data analysis platforms.

• Familiarity with analytics tools such as SQL, Python, Tableau, or Power BI is advantageous.

• Understanding of technology‑driven cost structures, OpEx vs. CapEx frameworks, and large‑scale deployment modeling.

Professional Skills

• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem‑solving skills.

• Ability to communicate complex financial analysis in a simple, actionable way.

• High attention to detail and strong organizational discipline.

• Collaborative approach, especially with engineering, planning, operations, and procurement

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