Space Systems Engineer, Mission Ops

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 headquartered in San Francisco, California, Earth.

About the Role:  

Planet efficiently and safely operates a unique large heterogeneous fleet of >200 satellites on-orbit. Managing these valuable assets is a highly technical feat and the teams that do so, consist of skilled engineers from a variety of backgrounds, having collectively worked on more than 30 space missions.

As a Space Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for the efficient, stable and safe operation of the largest Earth Observation fleet of satellites. This involves:

• Spacecraft commissioning and anomaly resolution
• Maintaining uptime and fleet performance
• Lead and execute on-orbit experiments and special activities
• Analyzing spacecraft data
• Develop tools and processes to support efficient multi-mission operations. 

Our goal is to minimize manual operator oversight, so a large part of this role will be automating ongoing mission operations and optimizing workflows. 

You can anticipate working in a close collaborative environment, frequently communicating with hardware and software experts to understand anomalies, develop procedures and shape the way we do operations. Our team is the first to detect and triage anomalous behavior, therefore an understanding of how each spacecraft subsystem relates to one another is important.

Expect to be in the middle of it all, as the work of the Mission Ops team is essential to Planet’s success.

What You Bring:

• BS in Aerospace/Software Engineering or similar
• Fundamental understanding of aerospace systems
• Experience with Python or other programming languages
• Experience in exploratory data analysis and visualization
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills
• Enthusiasm to dig down rabbit holes to debug an issue when needed.
• Ability to quickly pick up new concepts and to contribute with innovative solutions
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to triage, prioritize, and execute several independent tasks simultaneously  in an operational environment
• Problem solving oriented and self starter attitude

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Previous experience in spacecraft or related flight operations
• Previous  space systems integration & test experience.
• Experience in process automation, from design to software development.
• Experience in risk assessment/management and failure investigation
• Experience in machine learning
• Experience with Unix/Linux and Git version control.
• Experience using project management tools and issue trackers

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• Be part of a vibrant international company of 45+ nationalities with office locations in different countries
• Sense of belonging in a diverse and inclusive culture
• Experience a fast-paced spacetech environment
• Countless opportunities to connect within and outside of work with regular team events 
• Personal development with annual L&D budget
• Join our regular hack-weeks and meetup events to exchange knowledge
• Employee Resource Groups and the opportunity to be part of a community
• Give back to the community by using one day per quarter for charitable work as part of our 1% Pledge
• Flexible working hours to support work life balance
• Be part of our growth: we offer equity options for our employees
• Daily virtual mindful bodywork sessions to stay healthy
• We offer equipment and wellbeing support during these challenging times
• Contributions to Company Pension scheme
• Enjoy unique offers and discounts for companies/web shops
• Additional Company Holidays

Some Press About Us: 

Our CEO, Will Marshall featured on TED and featured in a Planet Blog

“Planet: Bringing Space Back Down to Earth”

Tiny, privately owned satellites are changing how we view the Earth features in NBC News

“Planet And Rocket Lab Create Mission Patch To Honor Women In Aerospace” —Planet Blog

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 with diversity, equity and inclusion.  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. 

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 interview process, please call Planet's front office at 669-214-9404 or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.

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