Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer at Planet in San Francisco, CA

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,