Engineering Program Manager — Special Projects

Planetlabs; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 162,600 - 203,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

Generous Paid Time Off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Planetlabs is seeking an Engineering Program Manager for Special Projects in San Francisco. This full-time, hybrid role involves leading project management efforts focused on space security initiatives and coordinating schedules across engineering teams.

The ideal candidate will possess 6+ years of relevant experience, expertise in managing hardware/software product lifecycles, and strong communication skills. Benefits include comprehensive health plans, generous PTO, and tuition reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant experience in engineering program management or technical project management.
• Solid technical baseline with a hands-on mentality.
• Ability to engage deeply with complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end project management for Satellite Security.
• Architect and maintain the overall SatSec programmatic schedule.
• Represent the security team during project planning.

Skills

Engineering program management

Technical project management

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science or related technical field

Job description

About the Role

The Engineering Program Manager (EPM) for Special Projects will be a fearless organizer and an excellent cross‑functional leader. Working directly with the security, engineering, and cross‑functional space program teams, you will drive project management efforts specifically focused on space security initiatives. In this tactical, “in‑the‑weeds” role, you will help establish programmatic strategy, coordinate schedules, and ruthlessly eliminate roadblocks to ensure our constellations remain secure, robust, and compliant.

This role demands a solid baseline of technical strength. Some domain experience in cybersecurity or space security is required, along with a healthy technical aptitude to credibly navigate engineering design discussions, facilitate high‑stakes technical tradeoffs, and represent the security team as a critical programmatic stakeholder across multiple concurrent satellite missions.

Full‑time, hybrid role: you will work from our San Francisco office three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Drive end‑to‑end project management workflows specifically for Satellite Security, translating security milestones into actionable engineering sprints.
• Partner shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the SatSec Manager to architect, baseline, and meticulously maintain the overall SatSec programmatic schedule and critical project milestones.
• Attend multidisciplinary engineering and program meetings to actively track space security requirements, managing dependencies and representing the security team as a core stakeholder during project planning and architectural tradeoffs.
• Manage tactical logistics for the team as needed, including processing purchase orders (POs), tracking equipment ordering, and managing vendor deliverables.
• Actively manage program risks, identify structural dependencies, and support development on new satellite programs and products.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant experience in engineering program management or technical project management within a dynamic hardware, software, or aerospace environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• A solid technical baseline with a “roll‑up‑your‑sleeves” mentality, enabling you to engage deeply with complex systems and translate technical engineering constraints into high‑level programmatic impacts.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to stay highly organized, manage schedule health, and drive consensus across diverse, high‑stakes environments.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience managing spacecraft hardware and software build and release cycles.
• Deep technical fluency in at least one spacecraft specialization (e.g., operations, avionics, software) allowing you to engage credibly with engineers on complex trade‑offs.
• Familiarity with space security, hardware security, or aerospace cryptography architectures.
• A track record of successfully delivering complex hardware products through the entire development lifecycle against all odds.

Benefits

• 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 $162,600 – $203,200 USD. This role may also 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.

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 required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

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 is 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.