Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer

Planet; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 163,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

HSA

Paid time off

Parental leave

Wellness program

Home office reimbursement

Phone & internet stipend

Tuition reimbursement

Equity

Commuter benefits

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Planet is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer to lead verification and validation activities for our next-generation satellite platforms. You will guide an agile manufacturing/test team through AI&T and ensure smooth transition from design to production while upholding quality and schedule commitments.

The role is full-time and hybrid, requiring work from our San Francisco HQ three days per week, with collaboration across Manufacturing, Test, and Qualification teams and

Qualifications

• 6+ years of satellite systems design and development.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or similar.
• Experience with vehicle testing (functional and environmental).
• Familiarity with requirements formulation, validation and verification.
• Familiarity with space manufacturing processes, test strategies, and V&V workflows.
• Experience with avionics integration and first-order electronics debugging.
• Strong systems engineering baseline with hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves mentality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute verification and validation plans for the satellite system, including environmental, functional, and end-to-end testing.
• Lead triage of technical issues encountered during AI&T.
• Track requirements and non-conformances surfaced during AI&T and assess cross-functional risks and impacts to customer-specific deliverables.
• Lead continuous improvement of AI&T processes to transition R&D development to scaled manufacturing programs of record.
• Provide feedback to Mechanical, Thermal, ADSCS/GNC, Propulsion, Electrical, and Manufacturing engineering teams for design iterations.

Skills

Satellite design

Vehicle testing

Avionics integration

Requirements management

V&V workflows

Manufacturing know-how

Systems engineering

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

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:

We are currently seeking a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer to support Planet’s development and deployment of our next generation satellite platforms. As a spacecraft technical lead, you will guide an agile manufacturing and test team through verification and validation (V&V), as well as integration, assembly and testing (AI&T) phases for new satellite systems. You will work directly with our Manufacturing, Test, and Qualification teams as well as cross-functional engineering design teams to ensure all requirements and any non-conformances are dispositioned. This position requires a solid technical baseline and a systems‑level mindset. You will need the technical credibility to navigate design discussions, facilitate risk‑based trade‑offs, and represent manufacturing and testability requirements early in the product lifecycle. Your primary objective will be to ensure Planet’s spacecraft transition smoothly from design to production while maintaining high standards for quality, schedule, and mission reliability. This is a full‑time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco HQ office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Develop and execute plans for Verification and Validation of the satellite system, including environmental, functional, and end‑to‑end testing
• Lead triage of technical issues encountered during AI&T
• Track requirements and non‑conformances surfaced during AI&T and assess cross‑functional risks as well as impacts to customer‑specific deliverables
• Lead continuous improvement of AI&T process to help transition Planet’s R&D development to scaled manufacturing programs of record
• Complete feed‑back loop to multiple design teams, including Mechanical, Thermal, ADSCS/GNC, Propulsion, Electrical, and Manufacturing engineering for design feedback and continuous iteration

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of relevant work experience in the design and development of satellite systems
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or similar
• Experience with vehicle testing, including both functional and environmental testing
• Familiarity with requirements formulation as well as validation and verification best practices
• Familiarity with space manufacturing processes, test strategies, and V&V workflows
• Experience with avionics integration, including familiarity with first order electronics debugging
• 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 real‑time decisions in the manufacturing process
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to stay highly organized, manage schedule, and drive consensus across diverse, high‑pressure environments

What Makes You Stand Out:

• 6+ years of experience working in the satellite industry, including design/analysis, AI&T and/or V&V
• Experience managing spacecraft hardware and software build and development cycles
• Deep technical fluency in at least one spacecraft specialization (e.g., structures, avionics, thermal design, software) allowing you to engage credibly with engineers on complex trade‑offs
• Familiar with industry standards including NASA GEVS and SMC-S-16 for small satellites (50-200 kg)
• Remote Sensing experience related to electro‑optical payloads
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulatory requirements related to Satellite and Rideshare Launch Vehicles

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.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• 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 USDSan Francisco

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 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 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.