As a Senior Software Engineer on this team you will own optimization initiatives end to end: framing an ambiguous operational problem with data, designing the solution, and driving it into production. You'll work closely with spacecraft and systems engineering groups to understand what our current and future fleets are actually capable of, with the software and operations teams who build and run the systems you're changing, and with Product to stay anchored to customer commitments and SLA risk. Being as effective at building agreement across those boundaries as you are at writing the code is a core part of this job.
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
Own significant optimization initiatives end to end – problem definition, data analysis, solution design, implementation, and measurement of the outcome against fleet SLAs and KPIs
Design, develop, and maintain mission-critical software that schedules and optimizes activities across our satellite constellations
Define concepts of operations for current fleets and for new missions and customer use cases, working directly with spacecraft, imaging, and systems engineering teams
Analyze operational data across the full stack to surface inefficiencies previously missed, and make the case for addressing them
Act as a technical advisor within the team and mentor earlier-career engineers
Represent the team's technical position with stakeholders across engineering, operations, and product
What You Bring
6+ years of professional software engineering experience, or equivalent depth achieved through your work
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
Deep proficiency in Python or a comparable language, with a track record of designing and shipping systems that other people depend on
Ability to take an ambiguous, loosely scoped problem and drive it to a measurable outcome with minimal direction
Data-driven approach, including statistical analysis and reasoning over large operational datasets
Effective written and verbal communication with technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience mentoring or technically leading other engineers
What Makes You Stand Out
Familiarity with satellite engineering, orbital mechanics, or the space environment and its operational constraints
Hands-on experience operating spacecraft or other remote/autonomous systems
Experience defining concepts of operations for complex systems
Background in optimization, scheduling, or operations research — constraint solvers, heuristics, combinatorial optimization
Experience with DevOps tooling and practices (Git, GitLab, Docker, CI/CD, Linux, Sentry, Datadog)
Contributions to open-source software
Application Deadline
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
$162,600—$203,200 USD
- San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Why we care so much about Belonging. We’re dedicated to helping the whole Planet, and to do that we must strive to represent all of it within each of our offices and on all of our teams. That’s why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belonging—dreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. If this job intrigues you, but you’re thinking you might not have all the qualifications, please... do apply! At Planet, we are looking for well-rounded people from around the world who can contribute to more ways than just what is listed in this job description. We don’t just fill positions, we aspire to fulfill people’s careers, most excited about folks who are motivated by our underlying humanitarian efforts. We are a few orbits around the sun before we get to where we want to be, so we hope you’re excited to come along for the ride.
EEO statement
Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Know Your Rights.
Accommodations
Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.com or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.
Privacy Policy: By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
Privacy Policy (European Applicants): By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Candidate Privacy Notice GDPR Planet Labs Europe, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
AI in Our Interviewing Process: Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Should an interview involve use of AI interview technologies, the candidate will receive notification and have the ability to opt out both in advance and/or real-time. Opting out will not affect one's candidacy.
Candidate AI Policy: Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. We understand that candidates may use various resources, including AI tools, to prepare for interviews and assessments. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools—e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If you are unsure about acceptable use, please contact your recruiter for clarification. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact accommodations@planet.com with your request for assistance. Your message will be confidential, and we will be happy to assist you. Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application.
