Space Systems Engineer, Space Operations

About the Role:

The Space Operations team is crucial to Planet's success, responsible for maintaining and optimizing the health and productivity of the world's largest Earth Observation satellite constellation. Our team spans North America and Berlin. Given the scale of our fleet, automation is at the heart of our operations. You'll develop and maintain critical software, transforming large datasets into actionable metrics.

As a Space Systems Engineer, you'll support daily satellite operations, analyze data, triage and resolve anomalies, run on-orbit experiments, test and deploy software both on the ground and in orbit, and commission satellites. We are looking for a data-driven self-starter with effective communication skills that collaborates well within a technical team and adapts quickly to changing tasks and contexts. You'll work closely with hardware and software experts across teams to debug anomalies, enhance or create services, and provide operational insights to shape our next-generation satellites.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

Conduct daily fleet checks and support On-Call shifts

Test and deploy flight software upgrades, debug satellite anomalies, and perform on-orbit experiments

Develop and maintain real-time, mission-critical software solutions for satellite operations

Write scripts to aggregate satellite data and generate system monitoring metrics

Analyze data to identify issues and inefficiencies in the full stack of services and propose solutions

Create and maintain operational procedures

Drive improvements to fleet capacity and productivity through process enhancements

Provide feedback to launch, manufacturing, and spacecraft engineering teams based on on-orbit performance, technical demonstrations, and forecasting models

Shape operational strategies for next-generation spacecraft

What You Bring:

2+ years of relevant work experience

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or equivalent

Experience in software development, particularly in Python or similar languages

Familiarity with the space environment and its challenges

Data-driven mindset with experience in statistical analysis

Proactive approach to engineering and problem-solving

Effective interpersonal and collaboration skills within a technical team

What Makes You Stand Out:

Hands-on experience operating spacecraft or remote systems

Experience and understanding of spacecraft propulsion and guidance, navigation, and control systems

Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing infrastructures

Experience with Agile software development

Experience in DevOps tools and practices (e.g., Git, GitLab, Docker, Jenkins, Bash, Linux, CI/CD, Sentry, Datadog)

Practical experience in data analysis for problem-solving

Familiarity with automation and optimization tools

Contributions to open-source software projects

Application Deadline:

11:45p / 23:45 PT on the date stated below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. For this reason, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to.

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution

Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off

16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave

Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Home Office Reimbursement

Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement

Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning

Equity

Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)

Volunteering Paid Time Off

Compensation:

The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is listed below. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job related experience, skills and location. The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

San Francisco Salary Range

$114,200—$142,700 USD

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