Senior Mechanical Ground Support Equipment Engineer

About the Role:

At Planet, we launch spacecrafts early and often. From technology demonstrators to operational constellations, exceptional engineers are needed to design, manufacture, test and launch spacecrafts.

As a Senior Mechanical GSE engineer, you will join a small team of dedicated engineers  playing a key role in the advent of several platforms. Focused on the upbringing of our payloads and buses, you will work closely with our qualification engineers and our electro-optics engineers in developing their Ground Support Equipment, from design and analysis to assembly and test. You will also have opportunities to lead derisk activities related to environmental and mechanical stress. The ideal candidate has a technical understanding of mechanical and optical basic principles applied to aerospace, is curious and creative and wants to be involved with hardware and problems solving. To be successful in this role, the candidate should enjoy hands-on work, thrive in ambiguity, and be able to lead their own projects into completion. Coming from a fast paced, aerospace environment, having completed difficult projects while collaborating effectively with other key teams, will be a plus.

This is a full-time position that will require you to be physically present at our headquarters in San Francisco, CA, 5 days a week. Occasional travel should be expected as part of testing and integration operations.

Impact You'll Own: 

Design and validate test fixtures and Ground Support Equipment (GSE):

• Understand needs and requirements for satellite sub-systems, especially optical payloads.
• Create, develop and test innovative mechanical solutions and testing methods.
• Use 3D CAD software to model test fixtures and GSE equipment. Run structural FEA. Populate 2D drawings GD&T compliant. 
• Supervise and assist with procurement, machining, assembly and proofloading operations.
• Perform hands-on operations like GSE and instrumentation setup, etc.

Implement continuous improvement and process development:

• Proactively improve current test set ups, stations and procedures to increase the efficiency and reliability of testing operations. 
• Own GSE design through its lifetime to support failures identification, anomalies, root causes investigations, and drive issues to resolution.
• Assist in analyzing and reviewing data using numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results and ensure that the hardware operates as expected. Identify trends, anomalies, and areas for improvement.

Document and develop communication: 

• Keep detailed notes of tests, specimens and anomalies. Report test results, providing recommendations for design modifications or improvements.  
• Produce design documentation to communicate design intent, usability, operations, and maintenance of new products to internal customers.
• Develop close communication and working relationships with Engineering and Manufacturing teams. Participate in, or hold, technical reviews, program status meetings, etc.

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Comfortable tackling challenges beyond one’s field of expertise or comfort zone.
• Keen on hands-on activities. Motivated to bring your projects all the way to assembly and test .
• Interest in prototyping, rapid iteration and agile processes. 
• Experience in working in a machine shop.
• Experience in environmental test qualification and environmental derisk activities, running and managing test projects involving Instron, vibration shakers, thermal chambers, TVAC chambers, shock machine, etc.
• Ability to develop and implement engineering solutions using Python, R, or MATLAB to automate calculations, analyze data, and simulate physical systems.
• Experience building and working with DAQs for test article command/control and data gathering; well-versed with the instrumentation, usage, and data consumption from accelerometers, load cells and other DAQ sensors.

What You Bring: 

• MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Opto-mechanics Engineering or Electro-Mechanics/Robotics Engineering.
• 6+ years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated creation of successful Ground Support Equipment (GSE) or related structural designs.
• Proven understanding of mechanical engineering first principles and practical application of theoretical methods. Ability to solve complex problems related to modeling, analysis, and verification.
• Familiarity with best practices for designing robust mechanical solutions as well as notions of designing for manufacturing using Solidworks CAD or equivalent. Proficiency in creating engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Proficiency in  structural static stress analysis for multi-body systems, including modal analysis. Familiarity with FEA software, like Solidworks Simulation, Ansys or equivalent.
• Proven understanding of material properties, force definitions, boundary conditions, mesh analysis, and FEA verification techniques.
• Data analysis skills for evaluating system performance and identifying anomalies.
• Proficiency in developing test procedures, as well as general manufacturing workflows. 
• Interest in prototyping, rapid iteration and agile processes. Knowledge of fabrication, welding, machining and assembly practices.
• Keen on hands-on activities. Motivated to bring your projects all the way to assembly and test.

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Basic knowledge of optics, optical instruments, and interferometry, with experience in designing tooling, jigs, fixtures, and kinematic mounts for optical assemblies.
• Proficiency in dimensional and surface metrology methods, particularly using optical instruments.
• Comfortable tackling challenges beyond one’s field of expertise or comfort zone.
• Experience in working in a machine shop.
• Experience in environmental test qualification and environmental derisk activities, running and managing test projects involving Instron, vibration shakers, thermal chambers, TVAC chambers, shock machine, etc.
• Ability to develop and implement engineering solutions using Python, R, or MATLAB to automate calculations, analyze data, and simulate physical systems.
• Interest in training junior engineers and technicians.

Application Deadline: July 9, 2025

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
• Remote-friendly work environment 
• 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.