Customer Success Manager, U.S. Defense and Intelligence

Planet Labs PBC; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

HSA with company contribution

Paid time off

Parental leave 16 weeks

Wellness program

Home office reimbursement

Phone & Internet reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Equity

Commuter benefits

Volunteering PTO

Job summary

Planet Labs PBC in Arlington, VA, is seeking a Customer Success Manager specialized in the Defense and Intelligence sectors. The role focuses on building trust with U.S.

Defense and Intelligence customers, guiding them to maximize Planet’s imagery, platform, and services, and providing tailored, technically informed support. You will work in a hybrid setup from the Arlington, VA office 3 days a week, bringing deep geospatial know-how to advisory interactions and helping customers realize value

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in Customer Success or related fields.
• Experience collaborating with the U.S. Department of Defense and/or Intelligence Community.
• Strong ability to translate customer needs into solutions and value.
• Proficient in remote sensing and geospatial imagery applications for DoD/IC contexts.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with Defense and Intelligence customers in the U.S.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and effective use of Planet's platforms and data.
• Provide hands-on training and guide customers to expand usage and adoption.
• Act as trusted advisor with geospatial and mission knowledge.
• Coordinate with Sales, Product, Support, and Professional Services for a seamless experience.
• Identify expansion opportunities and assist with renewals in collaboration with Account Executives.
• Maintain proactive, clear communication throughout contract lifecycle.

Skills

Customer Success

Defense & Intelligence

Geospatial Imagery

Remote Sensing

GIS

QGIS

Esri

GDAL

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

QGIS

SocketGXP

Esri products

GDAL

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 Customer Success Team at Planet is looking for a Customer Success Manager specializing in the Defense and Intelligence sectors. This role will focus primarily on supporting customers within the U.S. Defense and Intelligence communities, helping them derive maximum value from Planet's imagery, platform, and services. We are looking for a geospatial expert to foster and manage relationships with customers utilizing our platform and imagery in these critical domains. Your mission will be to serve as a trusted advisor, ensuring our clients derive maximum value while staying informed about product updates and industry developments. We are seeking candidates who understand the strategic importance of remote sensing data in Defense and Intelligence contexts, capable of guiding customers through platform nuances and identifying tailored solutions for them.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our D.C. office in Arlington, VA 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own

• Build and maintain long-lasting relationships with Defense and Intelligence customers, with a focus on U.S. accounts
• Ensure successful onboarding, training of new customers, and effective use of products
• Provide hands‑on training and support to help customers effectively use Planet's platforms, data, and solutions
• Assist customers to expand their usage and adoption of our products
• Bring geospatial and mission knowledge to every interaction, acting as a trusted technical advisor
• Serve as the internal advocate for your customers and the external face of Planet, ensuring alignment on goals and outcomes
• Provide excellent customer experience, ensure successful delivery of our services, and produce timely solutions according to customer needs and goals
• Maintain consistent communication with customers throughout the contract lifecycle and elevate issues as needed
• Collaborate with internal teams (Sales, Product, Support, Professional Services) to deliver a seamless customer experience
• Identify and drive expansion opportunities while managing renewals through strategic collaboration with Account Executives

What You Bring

• 4+ years of experience in Customer Success, account management, or related fields
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• Experience collaborating with the U.S. Department of Defense and/or Intelligence Community
• Excellent orientation towards delivering solutions and value to clients
• Proficient in remote sensing, GIS, or geospatial imagery products, particularly in their applications within the DoD and IC sectors
• Excellent problem‑solving abilities and a proactive approach to work
• Ability to multitask, work independently, prioritize, and manage time effectively
• Technical experience in remote sensing platforms and solutions
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to accurately capture customer requirements (Voice of the Customer) and effectively relay needs and impacts to both leadership and product teams
• Experience with geospatial software such as QGIS, SocketGXP, Esri products, GDAL, or equivalent
• Flexibility and willingness to travel as required

What Makes You Stand Out

• Active or ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance
• Experience supporting GEOINT missions in the U.S.
• Technical affinity around APIs
• Python scripting experience

Application Deadline

September 29, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

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.

US National Salary Range

$83,040—$103,760 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.

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.