Senior Payload System Engineer

About the Role:

The Programs and System Engineering group is looking for a Senior Payload System Engineer to join the team that is designing, building and operating a constellation of hyperspectral payloads part of the Tanager program. This program aims to drive greenhouse gas emission reductions by making methane and carbon dioxide data accessible and actionable.  This candidate will work at the intersection of hardware, software, and product. The role will appeal to candidates that enjoy the interchange between photography, science, systems engineering, and operations. An ideal candidate is proactive, self-motivated, and multi-faceted.  

This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco Headquarters.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Support and drive a multi-organizational System Engineering effort to develop, sustain and scale an advanced payload and hyperspectral imaging system. 
• Use on-orbit data to improve the reliability, robustness, and throughput of our satellite fleet.
• Collaborate with external partners to transfer advanced imaging know how and expertise into Planet to establish a vibrant and financially sustainable platform
• Drive the payload requirements from inception to mission implementation.
• Lead the payload cross-team collaborations between the hardware, satellite operations, imaging operations, pipeline, and software teams.
• Act as the key interface between payload design, build and the overall orchestration of the image pipelines. 
• Support the development and implementation of verification and validation plans for the payload system. 
• Negotiate and implement interface control documents within the payload systems and with the spacecraft bus.

What You Bring:

• 10+ years of relevant experience, of which 5+ years of experience designing airborne or space imaging payloads and/or telescopes.
• Ability to collaborate in a technical manner across organizational and functional boundaries to deliver capability to users
• Experience with multispectral or hyperspectral imaging systems
• Experience with program lifecycle stages including design, assembly, integration and test, or flight operations of imaging or camera hardware
• Experience leveraging scientific tools based in MATLAB, Python and/or C/C++ to advance design maturity and analyze system performance 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Practical experience in solving problems by exploiting large cloud-based datasets
• BS/MS in a EE, CS, AA or relevant scientific/engineering field

What Makes You Stand Out:

• 5+ years GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, or mapping work experience
• Experience with sensor chips, telescopes, camera electronics
• PhD in EE, CS, AA or relevant scientific/engineering field

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.