RF/Communication Systems Engineer

As a RF/Communication Systems Engineer at Astranis you will be responsible for the architecture, design, and modeling of our satellites communication payloads. You will work closely with many other teams including but not limited to the antenna, SDR, RF, DSP, and mechanical teams in order to design the best possible radio systems.

Role

• Own architectural trade studies, and establish system and unit level requirements analytically or via simulation
• Lead R&D efforts for new radio features / technologies / custom components
• Work closely with many design teams, including RF, Antenna, digital hardware, FPGA, mechanical, thermal
• Communications related signal processing algorithm design and test
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering or equivalent
• 3+ years of experience
• Strong technical communication skills (oral and written)
• Strong fundamentals in "signals and systems" and digital communications
• Familiar with hardware components and their associated impairments / limitations
• Comfortable working in the lab, testing radio hardware, using signal generator, signal analyzer, network analyzer, oscilloscope, etc
• Proven ability to triage and debug issues discovered in testing
• Comfortable developing software (Python, and some C/C++)
• Fast to learn new tools and workflows
• A passion for working in a fast-paced environment and constantly learning
• Don't meet them all? Not a problem. Please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria.

Bonus

• Familiarity with satellite radio systems (ground segment and/or space segment)
• RF system design and budgeting
• Radio characterization test planning, automation and execution
• Comfortable with software, especially Python, git, GNU Radio
• Fixed point implementation of signal processing algorithms
• Familiarity with multi-rate signal processing techniques (polyphase filters, resamplers, etc)
• Multi-antenna systems (beamforming, null-steering)
• Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modem design
• Familiarity with satellite waveforms and modems (DVB-S2/x, DVB-RCS2)

Internships at Planet:

Planet’s Summer 2026 internships are full-time, paid 12-week positions located in our San Francisco HQ Office. 

Program Dates:

• June 1 - August 21
• June 22 - September 11

About the Role:

Planet is working on the next generation small satellite bus that will host a high resolution optical imaging payload (Pelican) and a hyperspectral payload (Carbon Mapper). Planet has continuously iterated and developed small spacecraft communication systems including board level hardware, antennas, and ground station equipment that produce record data rates. Our system consists of transceivers in several bands, as well as a worldwide network of ground stations. 

We are seeking an RF/Optical Communications summer intern to develop our next-generation onboard, ground radios, modems and antenna systems that push the frontiers of satellite communications. As a RF/Optical Comms Intern you will assist the team in making evolutionary and revolutionary improvements in their performance, reliability and cost, including the design of next-generation S-band through Ka-band radios, Intersatellite Optical communications and a variety of antennas as well as contribute to various ongoing projects. You will participate in design and implementation of communication systems, PCB layout projects and interface with cross functional teams - electrical, FPGA, DSP, software and mechanical engineers to address challenging design issues.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• RF/MW hardware transceiver and circuit design, simulation (Spice, ADS, HFSS), instrumentation, test and characterization.
• Modem design, implementation, validation and verification
• Antenna design, simulation and testing
• Digital communications theory and associated signal processing algorithms for both narrowband and wideband data transmission systems
• Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms and respective signal processing toolkits (ex.: GNURadio)
• Optical communication systems integration and test
• Validation and Verification of radios and antennas pre-shipment and validation of radio performance on orbit after satellite launch.

What You Bring:

• Graduate or Ph. D. candidate pursuing a dissertation in a related RF, Optical Communications field. 
• Passion for RF/MW, communications, electromagnetics, and signal processing
• Ability to adapt and learn a multitude of technical skills related to the position and other building blocks for space and ground station applications.
• Excellent documentation, presentation and communication skills.

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Experience with Optical comms systems
• Class projects, prior internships or contribution to open source projects in the areas of digital signal processing and digital communications
• Understanding of finite word length effects in the implementation of DSP algorithms.
• Knowledge of mixed signal (A/D, D/A), digital, FPGA and uProcessor design, bringup, interfacing and prototyping.
• Experience in Linux, Python, MATLAB/Simulink, and data analysis tools
• Experience with at least one RF/MW design and simulation suites (ADS, HFSS, Microwave Office)
• Experience utilizing AI tools and agentic workflows for rapid development.

Application Deadline:

April 30, 2026 at 11:59p 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.

• Commuter Benefits
• Paid time off for holidays and company-wide days off
• Internet reimbursement
• Access to LinkedIn Learning

Compensation:

The US hourly rate range for this position at the commencement of employment is $35 - $60. 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.

About the Role:

Planet’s Flight Software Team is responsible for all of the embedded software that powers our diverse fleet of Superdove, Skysat, Pelican, and Tanager satellites. The software we build and maintain deploys to orbiting spacecraft hundreds of kilometers away and spans many functional verticals, including navigation and avionics, payload control, radio software, onboard autonomy, and supporting tooling and infrastructure. We collaborate closely with many other teams at Planet, including the Payload, EE, RF, Ground Software, and Missions teams, to deliver reliable and innovative solutions that ensure the success of Planet’s missions.

As a Flight Software Engineer at Planet, you will play a key role in the definition, development, maintenance, and optimization of this critical software. Our mission is to create seamless, intuitive systems that enable spacecraft operators, analysts, and engineers at Planet to interact reliably with our assets in space. We strive to minimize operational burden and automate all aspects of satellite operations. In this role, you will solve a wide range of complex engineering challenges in a dynamic environment.

You will design and implement new APIs, refine existing ones, and evaluate and select appropriate software technologies for given use cases. You will own and conduct root cause analyses which may cross software components as well as hardware domains; at times the target you’re debugging will be hundreds of kilometers away with limited bandwidth and periodic windows for communication. You will help design and deploy critical infrastructure, ensuring it meets operational demands and scales effectively to support Planet’s evolving missions. Finally, you will collaborate with operators and other key stakeholders to iteratively refine these systems, ensuring they meet today’s needs while advancing Planet’s broader mission to deliver insights that change how we see the world.

This is a full time, hybrid role which will require you to be in our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Independently own root cause investigations for complex bugs and implement robust fixes across our embedded targets, including bare-metal, RTOS, and Linux-based application code.
• Design, implement, and test new features and software components for new and existing satellite platforms with minimal guidance from technical leads. 
• Analyze system performance and propose/implement software improvements to enhance fleet robustness, efficiency, and capability.
• Work with stakeholders and other engineers to define specifications, develop clear component APIs, and produce comprehensive tests and documentation for the software you own.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of professional software development experience, with solid proficiency in C or C++ for embedded systems (RTOS or bare-metal).
• Experience with Python for scripting, testing, and data analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to a variety of stakeholders such as engineers, satellite operators, and engineering project managers.
• Professional experience working under agile development using the Git version control system.
• Familiarity with common hardware communication protocols such as UART, SPI, or I2C.

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Experience in multiple programming languages and operating systems.
• Linux/Unix systems programming experience such as memory-mapped files, network protocol development, process memory management, etc.
• Direct experience with RTOS and bare metal development on ARM microcontrollers (e.g., STM32).
• Experience writing software for FPGA softcores, RISC-V or otherwise.
• Experience developing or deploying applications for edge computing, such as onboard data processing or machine learning inference.
• Experience with containerization technologies like Docker/lxc.

Application Deadline:

May 15, 2026 at 11:59p 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.

JOB SUMMARY

Support the Electrical Engineering team in the design, build, test, and debug of electronic systems for robotic platforms. This role focuses on hands-on electrical work including wire harness fabrication, PCB rework, and system-level debugging using professional test equipment. The ideal candidate will bring strong bench skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work closely with engineers to bring designs from prototype through production-ready states.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES HARNESS & CABLE ASSEMBLY FABRICATION

• Build, route, and install custom wire harnesses and cable assemblies from engineering drawings and schematics
• Perform crimping, soldering, and connector termination to IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards
• Select appropriate wire gauges, connectors, and sleeving materials based on application requirements
• Conduct continuity and hi-pot testing on completed harnesses before integration

PCB REWORK & ASSEMBLY

• Perform basic PCB rework including component removal, replacement, and soldering of through-hole and surface mount components
• Execute board-level modifications (jumper wires, trace cuts, component swaps) per engineering change orders
• Inspect solder joints and rework quality using magnification tools; maintain IPC-A-610 acceptability standards
• Assist with PCB bring-up and initial power-on testing of new board revisions

TEST, DEBUG & TROUBLESHOOTING

• Operate oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, and signal generators to capture and analyze electrical signals
• Perform system-level and board-level debug to isolate faults in power, signal, and communication circuits Interpret schematics, block diagrams, and datasheets to support troubleshooting efforts
• Document findings, failure modes, and root causes; communicate results clearly to the engineering team

DOCUMENTATION & PROCESS SUPPORT

• Maintain accurate build logs, test records, and rework documentation
• Create and update work instructions and procedures for recurring assembly and test tasks
• Track materials, components, and consumables usage; flag inventory needs to the engineering team
• Support the development of test fixtures and jigs as needed

COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATION

• Work closely with electrical engineers to understand design intent and provide build feedback Participate in design reviews by offering manufacturability and serviceability input from a hands-on perspective
• Coordinate with mechanical and software teams during system integration and testing
• Escalate issues and blockers promptly with clear technical detail

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• IPC-A-610 or IPC J-STD-001 certification
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification for cable and harness assemblies
• Experience with common communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN) Familiarity with embedded systems, microcontrollers, or FPGA-based platforms
• Experience with EDA tools (Altium, KiCad, Eagle) for reading board layouts
• Exposure to robotic systems, motor drives, or power electronics
• Experience with version-controlled documentation or PLM systems

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Bench Skills: Exceptional hand soldering, crimping, and fine-pitch rework ability
• Technical Acumen: Solid understanding of analog and digital circuits, power distribution, and signal integrity fundamentals
• Attention to Detail: Produces consistent, high-quality work with minimal rework; catches errors before they propagate
• Problem-Solving: Methodical approach to debugging — isolates variables, tests hypotheses, and documents findings
• Communication: Clearly conveys technical information to engineers and peers, both verbally and in writing Adaptability:
• Comfortable shifting between harness builds, board rework, and debug tasks as priorities change
• Teamwork: Works effectively under engineering direction while proactively flagging issues and suggesting improvements
• Organization: Keeps workbench, tools, and documentation orderly; manages multiple tasks without dropping detail

Salary Range: $110,000-$125,000/K

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate’s combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience 

P-1285

About This Role

As a staff software engineer for GenAI Performance and Kernel, you will own the design, implementation, optimization, and correctness of the high-performance GPU kernels powering our GenAI inference stack. You will lead development of highly-tuned, low-level compute paths, manage trade-offs between hardware efficiency and generality, and mentor others in kernel-level performance engineering. You will work closely with ML researchers, systems engineers, and product teams to push the state-of-the-art in inference performance at scale.

What You Will Do

• Lead the design, implementation, benchmarking, and maintenance of core compute kernels (e.g. attention, MLP, softmax, layernorm, memory management) optimized for various hardware backends (GPU, accelerators)
• Drive the performance roadmap for kernel-level improvements: vectorization, tensorization, tiling, fusion, mixed precision, sparsity, quantization, memory reuse, scheduling, auto-tuning, etc.
• Integrate kernel optimizations with higher-level ML systems
• Build and maintain profiling, instrumentation, and verification tooling to detect correctness, performance regressions, numerical issues, and hardware utilization gaps
• Lead performance investigations and root-cause analysis on inference bottlenecks, e.g. memory bandwidth, cache contention, kernel launch overhead, tensor fragmentation
• Establish coding patterns, abstractions, and frameworks to modularize kernels for reuse, cross-backend portability, and maintainability
• Influence system architecture decisions to make kernel improvements more effective (e.g. memory layout, dataflow scheduling, kernel fusion boundaries)
• Mentor and guide other engineers working on lower-level performance, provide code reviews, help set best practices
• Collaborate with infrastructure, tooling, and ML teams to roll out kernel-level optimizations into production, and monitor their impact

What We Look For

• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, or a related field
• Deep hands-on experience writing and tuning compute kernels (CUDA, Triton, OpenCL, LLVM IR, assembly or similar sort) for ML workloads
• Strong knowledge of GPU/accelerator architecture: warp structure, memory hierarchy (global, shared, register, L1/L2 caches), tensor cores, scheduling, SM occupancy, etc.
• Experience with advanced optimization techniques: tiling, blocking, software pipelining, vectorization, fusion, loop transformations, auto-tuning
• Familiarity with ML-specific kernel libraries (cuBLAS, cuDNN, CUTLASS, oneDNN, etc.) or open kernels
• Strong debugging and profiling skills (Nsight, NVProf, perf, vtune, custom instrumentation)
• Experience reasoning about numerical stability, mixed precision, quantization, and error propagation
• Experience in integrating optimized kernels into real-world ML inference systems; exposure to distributed inference pipelines, memory management, and runtime systems
• Experience building high-performance products leveraging GPU acceleration
• Excellent communication and leadership skills — able to drive design discussions, mentor colleagues, and make trade-offs visible
• A track record of shipping performance-critical, high-quality production software
• Bonus: published in systems/ML performance venues (e.g. MLSys, ASPLOS, ISCA, PPoPP), experience with custom accelerators or FPGA, experience with sparsity or model compression techniques

Internships at Planet:

Planet’s Summer 2026 internships are full-time, paid 12-week positions located in our San Francisco HQ Office. 

Program Dates:

• June 1 - August 21
• June 22 - September 11

About the Role:

Planet’s Program and Systems team is seeking an Imaging Systems Intern to help with the development and validation of Planet’s fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. This role is for a systems-thinker who wants to see how physics, hardware, and software converge. You will report to Imaging leadership and collaborate closely with Electro Optics, Thermal, GNC, Mission Software and Operations team to ensure the proper operation of our imaging payloads in the ground and on orbit.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco office 5 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Collaborate with spacecraft hardware, mission operations, imaging pipeline, and embedded software teams to deliver product needs.
• Support ground and flight testing, and operation of new and advanced imaging systems
• Support Verification & Validation (V&V) campaigns to ensure payloads meet imaging performance requirements.
• Assist in root-cause analysis for imaging anomalies and contribute to the deployment of technical fixes or calibration updates.

What You Bring:

• Enrolled in an Advanced graduate program (MS/PhD) in Optical Engineering, Computer Science,  Aerospace engineering or relevant field.
• A systems-thinking approach to working through complex problems
•  Ready to roll up your sleeve -  self-motivated approach to solving ambiguous problems in a real-time operations environment.
• Academic or project experience in imaging sensors, optical metrology, photogrammetry, computer vision and/or remote sensing/GIS.
• Strong coding skills (Python/C++/FPGA) for automated data analysis, visualization, and hardware interfacing.
• Understanding of one or multiple satellite subsystems including: Optical, Thermal, ADSCS/GNC
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to collaborate across teams

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Experience with sensors, telescope optics, or lab-based optical benches.
• Prior exposure to satellite AI&T (Assembly, Integration, & Test) or orbital mechanics.
• Background in Computer Vision, Radiometry, or Geometric Calibration.
• Experience in software engineering for large-scale data processing of Earth Observation datasets.

Application Deadline:

April 5, 2026 at 11:59p 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.

• Commuter Benefits
• Paid time off for holidays and company-wide days off
• Internet reimbursement
• Access to LinkedIn Learning

Compensation:

The US hourly rate range for this position at the commencement of employment is $35 - $60. 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.

About the Role: 

Planet's Space Systems organization designs, builds, and launches the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites in history. This team spans satellite manufacturing and integration, RF and antenna engineering, thermal and power systems, deployable structures, and avionics — and it represents Planet's highest-volume and most technically specialized hiring demand. We are scaling production for next-generation constellations and expanding manufacturing operations, which means Space Systems hiring runs at peak intensity through the middle of our fiscal year.

We are looking for an experienced contract Talent Acquisition Partner to provide coverage for a senior recruiter's planned leave of absence during this critical period. This is a full-time, approximately six-month engagement with an expected start in mid-June to allow onboarding overlap before the leave begins in July. You will step into an active portfolio of requisitions across hardware engineering and manufacturing, inherit existing candidate pipelines, and maintain delivery continuity for hiring managers who are accustomed to a high level of recruiting partnership.

This is not a ramp-up role. You will be expected to operate independently within the first few weeks — running intake meetings, managing pipeline, negotiating offers, and partnering directly with Space Systems hiring managers. You will work alongside a Talent Acquisition Partner who is permanently aligned to the pod for the hardest-to-fill technical roles.

You will report to the Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition for the duration of the contract.

This role is based in San Francisco, where Planet's headquarters and primary satellite manufacturing facility are located. This role will require you to work from our SF HQ 3 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Provide full-cycle recruiting coverage for the Space Systems pod during a senior team member's planned leave of absence, ensuring zero disruption to hiring delivery.
• Inherit and manage an active portfolio of requisitions spanning hardware engineering, manufacturing operations, satellite integration and test, and specialized technical disciplines — picking up existing pipelines and advancing candidates through the process without losing momentum.
• Partner directly with Space Systems hiring managers to maintain the caliber of recruiting partnership they expect — running intake meetings, providing market intelligence, managing expectations on timeline and candidate availability, and closing offers.
• Manage 10–15 concurrent requisitions across a range of engineering specialties including mechanical, electrical, RF, thermal, power, FPGA, and manufacturing operations roles.
• Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition Partner in the pod to balance workload, share pipeline intelligence, and ensure no requisitions fall through the cracks during the transition.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date pipeline data in Greenhouse, ensuring a clean handback when the senior team member returns from leave.
• Deliver a thorough transition at the end of the engagement — documenting pipeline status, hiring manager context, and candidate relationships so that nothing is lost when the permanent recruiter resumes.

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, with substantial time spent hiring for hardware engineering, manufacturing, or technical disciplines in aerospace, defense, or adjacent industries.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Ability to step into an active requisition portfolio and deliver results quickly — you have done contract or interim recruiting work before and know how to build hiring manager trust on an accelerated timeline.
• Deep familiarity with aerospace, satellite, or hardware engineering talent markets — you already know which companies, programs, and talent pools produce the candidates these hiring managers need.
• Experience managing a high-volume requisition load (10+ concurrent searches) with minimal supervision, maintaining quality pipeline activity and consistent stakeholder communication.
• Solid technical fluency across hardware engineering disciplines — you can credibly discuss RF design, power systems, thermal analysis, and mechanical engineering at a level that earns hiring manager confidence.
• Proficiency with Greenhouse or a comparable enterprise ATS, including pipeline management, reporting, and structured interview workflows.
• Excellent offer negotiation skills — you can manage competing offers, navigate compensation conversations, and close candidates in a competitive market without over-relying on escalation.
• Solid organizational discipline — you will be managing inherited pipelines with existing candidate relationships, and nothing can fall through the cracks during the transition.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Direct experience recruiting for satellite, spacecraft, or launch vehicle programs — you can walk onto a manufacturing floor, understand what you are looking at, and translate that context into a compelling candidate pitch.
• Previous contract or interim recruiting engagements where you successfully covered a leave of absence or backfilled a senior recruiter — you have a playbook for fast onboarding and clean handoffs.
• Familiarity with ITAR and export control compliance as it relates to recruiting, including how citizenship and clearance requirements constrain candidate pools for specific roles.
• An existing network in the San Francisco Bay Area aerospace and hardware engineering talent community that you can activate immediately.
• Experience recruiting for both salaried engineering roles and hourly manufacturing or technician positions — comfortable spanning the full spectrum of Space Systems hiring.

Application Deadline:

June 25, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

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.

About the Role:

Planet designs, builds, and launches the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites in history — and the Space Systems organization is where that hardware comes to life. From satellite manufacturing and integration to RF engineering, thermal design, power systems, and deployable structures, this team is responsible for the physical infrastructure that makes global daily imaging possible. As we scale production for our next-generation constellations and stand up a second manufacturing hub in Berlin, the hiring demand across Space Systems is the largest and most technically complex in the company.

As a Talent Acquisition Partner embedded in the Space Systems pod, you will own full-cycle recruiting for roles spanning hardware engineering, manufacturing operations, satellite integration and test, and specialized technical disciplines. You will develop deep domain expertise in the talent markets that matter most — learning the difference between an RF systems engineer and an optical designer, understanding why FPGA firmware experience matters for satellite avionics, and knowing which companies and programs produce the candidates our hiring managers need.

This is a pod-based role, meaning your alignment to Space Systems is persistent — not rotational. You will build lasting relationships with hiring managers across the organization, develop a point of view on their teams and talent needs, and become a trusted partner who can anticipate demand rather than just react to it. You will work alongside a senior Talent Acquisition Partner who brings deep institutional knowledge of Space Systems hiring.

This role is based in San Francisco, where Planet's headquarters and primary satellite manufacturing facility are located. Proximity to the Space Systems team, the manufacturing floor, and the engineering labs matters — it allows you to build credibility with hiring managers, attend design reviews and team events, and develop the contextual understanding that separates a great technical recruiter from a generalist filling reqs.

You will report to the Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition and partner closely with your pod teammate, and Talent Operations to deliver against quarterly hiring targets while maintaining a high-quality candidate experience.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Own full-cycle recruiting for Space Systems roles — from intake and sourcing strategy through offer negotiation and close — across hardware engineering, manufacturing, satellite integration and test, and specialized technical disciplines.
• Manage a requisition load of 10–15 active searches at a time, spanning a wide range of engineering specialties including mechanical, electrical, RF, thermal, power, FPGA, and manufacturing operations.
• Build deep, trusted partnerships with Space Systems hiring managers — learning their team structures, technical requirements, and growth plans so you can anticipate hiring needs and proactively build pipeline before requisitions open.
• Develop domain expertise in aerospace and hardware engineering talent markets — understanding where top candidates come from, what motivates them, and how Planet's mission and technical challenges differentiate us from competitors.
• Collaborate with your pod teammate to balance workload across the Space Systems portfolio, share market intelligence, and ensure coverage continuity during peak hiring periods or planned absences.
• Maintain accurate pipeline data in Greenhouse, run structured pipeline reviews, and use data to identify bottlenecks, adjust sourcing strategies, and forecast delivery against quarterly targets.
• Champion candidate experience throughout the process — ensuring timely communication, well-prepared interview panels, and a close process that reflects the quality of the organization candidates are joining.
• Contribute to the broader TA team's evolution by sharing best practices from technical recruiting, participating in process improvement initiatives, and helping refine interview frameworks for engineering roles.

What You Bring:

• 4+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, with meaningful time spent hiring for hardware engineering, manufacturing, or other technical disciplines in aerospace, defense, automotive, or adjacent industries.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Ability to source and close passive candidates in competitive technical markets where talent pools are limited and candidates have multiple offers.
• Experience managing a high-volume requisition load (10+ concurrent searches) while maintaining quality pipeline activity and consistent hiring manager communication.
• Solid technical fluency — you don't need to be an engineer, but you need to credibly discuss the difference between analog and digital circuit design, understand what a thermal vacuum test is, and learn new technical domains quickly.
• Experience partnering with sourcers or coordinating with external agencies to build pipelines for hard-to-fill roles, with a clear point of view on when to self-source versus leverage support.
• Proficiency with Greenhouse or a comparable ATS, including pipeline management, reporting, and structured interview workflows.
• Excellent judgment on candidate assessment — you can calibrate quickly with a hiring manager, push back constructively on unrealistic requirements, and advocate for strong candidates who might not check every box.
• Solid organizational skills and attention to detail — you manage multiple concurrent processes without letting candidates or hiring managers fall through the cracks.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Direct experience recruiting for satellite, spacecraft, or launch vehicle programs — you understand the engineering disciplines, the clearance requirements, and the competitive landscape.
• Familiarity with export control and ITAR compliance as it relates to recruiting — understanding how citizenship and clearance requirements shape candidate pools and sourcing strategies.
• Experience recruiting for manufacturing operations roles (technicians, integration specialists, test engineers) in addition to design engineering — comfortable spanning the full spectrum from hourly to senior IC.
• Track record of hiring in the San Francisco Bay Area aerospace and hardware ecosystem, with an existing network in the local talent community.
• Experience working in a pod-based or business unit-aligned recruiting model where you developed deep domain expertise over time rather than rotating across functions.

Application Deadline:

June 25, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

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.

About the Role:

Planet seeks a Senior Camera Hardware Engineer to serve as the lead electrical architect for our satellite imaging payloads within the Electrical Engineering team. This role encompasses the complete electrical life cycle of our camera systems, including recommending the optimal image sensor, designing ultra-low-noise power rails, and guaranteeing high-speed data integrity from the sensor to the FPGA. The engineer will collaborate closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal and Optical engineers to optimize the entire optical payload (camera and telescope) to meet our mission requirements.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Design and own the high-speed PCBA architectures for next-generation camera payloads, including sensor headboards and data acquisition systems.
• Collaborate with Payload Systems Engineers to define the electrical specification and selection of CMOS image sensors, focusing on quantum efficiency, full-well capacity, and minimizing temporal/spatial noise.
• Architect low-noise power delivery networks (PDN) and high-speed differential signaling (LVDS/MIPI) to ensure pristine image data capture.
• Partner with Firmware/FPGA teams to optimize the Image Signal Processing pipeline, implementing hardware-level calibration for dark current and defective pixels.
• Drive the electrical requirements for precision sensor alignment, including the design of flexible interconnects and thermal monitoring circuits that maintain focus across orbital temperature swings.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of experience in hardware design, with a significant focus on digital/analog imaging systems and camera hardware.
• Expertise in CMOS sensor operation, including the ability to model and design practical solutions to minimize electronic noise.
• Hands-on experience with high-end oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and optical test equipment (monochromators, integrating spheres).
• Ability to navigate the trade-offs between power consumption, thermal dissipation, and image SNR.

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Experience with Earth observation payload specifications and remote sensing mission requirements.
• Experience designing electronics for the LEO environment, including knowledge of radiation mitigation and vacuum-compatible design.
• Professional experience with FPGA-based signal processing and high-speed data serialization.
• Deep experience in precision analog design specifically for sensor biasing and high-resolution ADC interfacing.

Application Deadline:

June 4, 2026 at 11:59p 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.

About the Role:

At Planet Labs, we move fast to solve hard problems. We are looking for an R&D Lab Manager to lead our development workspace located directly adjacent to our satellite production facility. In this role, you will be the "boss of the physical space," helping our design team with their critical validation work. You will split your time between maintaining a world-class, organized lab environment and providing precision solder rework for non-flight hardware. You are someone who takes immense pride in a clean, ESD-safe workbench and thrives on the autonomy of building a space that enables ~40 engineers (EE, FPGA,RF, MW, Firmware, Mechanical, GNC, and Thermal) to do their best work.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco Office 5 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Own the lab’s physical space by implementing and maintaining clean, ESD-safe workspaces and executing/improving organization SOPs.
• Perform precision SMT soldering including hot air/hot plate rework, inspecting solder joints for workmanship and handling the assembly and disassembly of PCBA subsystems.
• Provide direct engineering test support by setting up boards and fixtures, collecting data, and troubleshooting prototypes alongside the EE team.
• Maintain the equipment list, schedule routine calibrations, and coordinate with facilities for updated lab infrastructure such as power, water, and air connections.
• Manage inventory and consumables supply, interface with external vendors, handle kitting, and track order progress from shipment to delivery.
• Build rapid-prototype fixtures using 3D printers and laser cutters, and handle harness rework, wire crimping, and cable routing according to drawings.
• Use software infrastructure for flashing and provisioning electrical subsystems, utilizing basic Linux competence to interact with and control hardware

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of relevant experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a scientific field
• Deep experience in precision SMT soldering and hot air rework, with the ability to interpret electrical schematics and drawings fluently.
• Proficiency with basic test instrumentation, including multimeters, bench power supplies, and oscilloscopes.
• Hands-on experience in a machine shop environment, including the use of 3D printers and laser cutters for rapid prototyping.
• A solid background in inventory management, vendor coordination, and maintaining high-quality documentation and supply chains.
• A commitment to high workmanship standards and the ability to manage the maintenance of deployed setups and systems.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize resources among competing needs.

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• A track record of taking extreme autonomy and initiative to improve physical workspaces without needing a roadmap.
• Basic competence in Linux for hardware interaction and familiarity with Altium and Solidworks for reviewing designs
• Experience managing labs or technical spaces through periods of rapid growth, successfully scaling inventory systems and infrastructure to meet team demands.
• IPC-J-STD-001 Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) or equivalent certification

Application Deadline:

June 4, 2026 at 11:59p 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.