Senior Camera Systems Engineer

Planetlabs; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 205,800 - 257,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Equity

Paid time off

Parental leave (16 weeks)

Home office reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Planet seeks a Senior Camera Systems Engineer to act as the primary system architect and technical lead for next‑generation satellite camera modules. You will drive requirements flowdown, lead cross‑functional trade studies, and manage key vendor relationships to optimize SWaP‑C and electro‑optical performance.

You will collaborate with Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal, Optical, and Flight Software teams to meet mission goals and establish ICDs, PM reviews, and verification plans across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems/Electrical/Optical/Aerospace Engineering or closely related field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience with at least 5+ years in systems engineering or leadership for camera/electro‑optical imaging systems.
• Experience managing requirements traceability across electrical, mechanical and optical boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Translate top‑level imaging requirements into verifiable specs for the camera subsystem.
• Serve as primary technical contact for image sensor vendors; define SOWs and milestones; lead design reviews.
• Lead camera trade studies balancing image quality and spacecraft constraints (power, thermal, mass).
• Define ICDs mapping interfaces between camera module, ISP, and payload bus.
• Own end‑to‑end verification and environmental/EO calibration plans.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Requirements flowdown

Vendor management

CMOS image sensor

Radiometry

MTF

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in related field

Job description

About the Role

Planet seeks a Senior Camera Systems Engineer to serve as the primary system architect and technical lead for our next-generation satellite camera modules. In this role, you will bridge the gap between mission-level imaging goals and hardware implementation, orchestrating the end-to-end lifecycle of our camera systems. You will drive requirements flowdown, lead cross‑functional trade studies, and manage key technical relationships with external image sensor and camera component vendors.

You will collaborate closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal, Optical, and Flight Software teams to optimize the camera system to meet our tight SWaP‑C (Size, Weight, Power, Cost, and Schedule) and electro‑optical performance targets.

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

• Translate top‑level remote sensing performance requirements into clear, verifiable specifications for the camera subsystem (including image sensor, proximity electronics, lens/optical interfaces, and thermal management).
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for external image sensor foundries and camera component vendors; drive statement of work (SOW) definitions, technical milestones, and critical design reviews (PDR/CDR).
• Lead camera‑level trade studies balancing image quality attributes (SNR, dynamic range, MTF, radiometry) against spacecraft constraints like power consumption, thermal dissipation, and mass.
• Define and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) mapping the boundaries between the camera module, high‑speed data serialization, the image signal processing (ISP) pipeline, and the host payload/spacecraft bus.
• Own the end‑to‑end verification matrix for the camera; design and oversee the execution of environmental qualification plans (vacuum, thermal, vibration) and electro‑optical calibration routines.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 5+ years dedicated to systems engineering or technical leadership for complex digital cameras or electro‑optical (EO) imaging systems.
• Proven track record of managing requirements traceability and flowdown across electrical, mechanical, and optical boundaries.
• Demonstrated experience managing external vendors, foundries, or contract manufacturers for high‑performance camera components or custom sensors.
• Deep understanding of CMOS image sensor architecture, radiometry, and camera performance budgets (e.g., tracking noise, stray light, and MTF across the camera module).

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience developing camera hardware or imaging instruments for the LEO environment, including knowledge of radiation mitigation, outgassing, and vacuum‑compatible design.
• Experience applying aerospace standards (NASA, ESA, or high‑reliability commercial equivalents) to camera qualification, environmental testing, and hardware acceptance.
• Familiarity with hardware‑level image processing (e.g., dark current correction, defective pixel masking), high‑speed serialization protocols, and ground‑station image calibration.

Application Deadline

October 14, 2026 at 11:59 p PT

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

• 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 $205,800 ‑ $257,200 USD in San Francisco. 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.

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.