Software Engineer, Missions Software

Planetlabs; United States; Hybrid; USD 100,300 - 125,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Equity

Home Office Reimbursement

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Planet is seeking a remote, full‑time engineer to maintain and enhance automation for satellite operations. You will design APIs, evaluate technologies, and deploy infrastructure as part of a cross‑functional team that supports operators, analysts, and engineers.

You will work with Python, relational databases, and modern CI/CD tooling in a dynamic, hybrid environment, with opportunities to influence product and mission outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
• 2–3 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in Python programming.
• Experience in API design.
• Experience with automated testing, code review, and documentation.
• Experience with relational database technologies (e.g., Postgres, MySQL).
• Experience with maintaining peer‑reviewed code and CI/CD workflows and tooling like GitLab CI and Docker or similar.
• Proficient Linux skills.
• Ability to be a self‑starter for solving problems in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to clearly communicate and collaborate with cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and augment the automation and services responsible for operation of Planet’s satellites.
• Specify and implement new HTTP APIs and improve existing ones.
• Evaluate and choose appropriate software technologies; design and deploy infrastructure.
• Collaborate with teams across Planet to ensure the satellite constellation meets mission needs.

Skills

Python programming

API design

Automated testing

Code review

Documentation

Relational databases

Linux

Self-starter

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or similar

Tools

GitLab CI

Docker

Kubernetes

Ansible

Terraform

Datadog

Sentry

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 worldwide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role

Planet’s Mission Control is a web-based application that empowers spacecraft operators and analysts to monitor, control, and study our growing fleet of satellites. It is flanked by a number of distributed microservices that handle spacecraft scheduling, tasking, telemetry processing, and similar operational needs. Together, these services automate much of the day‑to‑day operations of Planet's fleet of satellites.

You’ll be a part of a team that builds, maintains, and operates these tools. Our mission is to offer a seamless interface that enables spacecraft operators, analysts, and engineers at Planet to interact effortlessly with our assets in space. We strive to minimize operational burden, and to automate all aspects of satellite operations. You will be a part of a team that will support, enable and engage with the end users to iterate on these systems. In this role, you will tackle and solve a broad array of engineering problems in a dynamic environment.

This is a full‑time, remote position based in the United States or Canada. If located near an office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own

• Maintain and augment the automation and services ultimately responsible for the operation of Planet’s satellites. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Specify and implement new HTTP APIs and help improve existing ones.
  • Evaluate and choose appropriate software technologies.
  • Design and deploy critical infrastructure.
• Contribute with a team that values open and honest communication, collaboration, self‑learning and initiative to solve problems big and small.
• Work closely with various teams across Planet, ranging from Satellite and Ground Operations, to Pipeline and Product teams to ensure the satellite constellation meets all of the needs to achieve Planet’s missions.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
• 2–3 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in Python programming.
• Experience in API design.
• Experience with automated testing, code review, and documentation.
• Experience with relational database technologies (e.g., Postgres, MySQL, etc.).
• Experience with maintaining peer‑reviewed code and continuous integration and deployment workflows and tooling like GitLab CI and Docker or similar.
• Proficient Linux skills.
• Ability to be a self‑starter for solving problems in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to clearly communicate and collaborate with cross‑functional teams.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience building services that leverage cloud‑based infrastructure and tooling such as AWS or GCP.
• Experience maintaining infrastructure with Ansible or similar (eg. Kubernetes, Terraform).
• Experience working with monitoring tools like Datadog, Sentry, or equivalent.
• Experience working in microservice environments.
• Knowledge of aerospace concepts.

Application Deadline

September 25, 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 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.

New York City + California Salary Range: $107,400 — $134,300 USD

San Francisco Salary Range: $114,200 — $142,700 USD

US National Salary Range: $100,300 — $125,400 USD

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.