Associate, Space Operations

Telemetry Today LLC; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 57,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

HSA with company contribution

Paid time off

16 weeks parental leave

Wellness program

Home office reimbursement

Internet reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Equity

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Planet is seeking an Associate in Space Operations to support daily satellite operations, analyze data, triage anomalies, and deploy software on ground and in orbit. You will work with hardware and software teams to improve services and provide operational insights for next-generation satellites.

The role is part-time, 12 months, hybrid in the San Francisco office, 3 days per week. The team emphasizes data-driven work, DevOps familiarity, and a proactive, collaborative approach in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Active university enrollment during the role.
• Software development experience in Python or similar.
• Familiarity with space environment and its challenges.
• Data-driven mindset with statistical analysis experience.
• Strong collaboration and communication within technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain real-time, mission-critical software for satellite operations.
• Support daily fleet checks, triage and resolve satellite anomalies.
• Write scripts to aggregate satellite data and generate system metrics.
• Test and deploy flight software upgrades, debug anomalies, and run on-orbit experiments.
• Create and maintain operational procedures.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Self-starter

Adaptability

Education

Actively enrolled in an accredited university programme

Tools

Git

GitLab

Docker

Jenkins

Bash

Linux

CI/CD

Sentry

Datadog

Job description

Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.

Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.

As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.

We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.

Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

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 an Associate in Space Operations, 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 part-time, temporary role which is expected to last 12 months. This is a hybrid position which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Develop and maintain real-time, mission-critical software solutions for satellite operations
• Support daily fleet checks, including identifying, triaging, and resolving satellite anomalies
• Write scripts to aggregate satellite data and generate system monitoring metrics
• Test and deploy flight software upgrades, debug satellite anomalies, and perform on-orbit experiments
• Create and maintain operational procedures

What You Bring:

• Actively enrolled in an accredited university programme
• Software development experience, particularly in Python or similar languages
• Familiarity with the space environment and its challenges
• Data-driven mindset with experience in statistical analysis
• Effective interpersonal and collaboration skills within a technical team
• Self-starter that proactively tackles problems and brings in their own ideas
• Comfortable working in a dynamic environment

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Understanding of space environment and space operations
• Proficiency in DevOps tools and practices (e.g., Git, GitLab, Docker, Jenkins, Bash, Linux, CI/CD, Sentry, Datadog)
• Practical expertise 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.

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)

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

$35 — $35 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. 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 [e-mail] or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.

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 [e-mail] 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.