Planet Labs

Software Engineer, Missions Software

Planet Labs$82K — $102K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Canada
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
  • 2-3 years of relevant work experience.
  • Experience in Python programming.
  • Experience in API design and development.
  • Familiarity with automated testing and code review processes.
  • Experience with relational databases (e.g., Postgres, MySQL).
  • Proficient in Linux and version control systems like GitLab.

Responsibilities

  • Maintain and enhance automation services for satellite operations.
  • Design and implement new HTTP APIs and improve existing ones.
  • Evaluate and select appropriate software technologies.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support satellite operations.
  • Contribute to the design and deployment of critical infrastructure.
  • Engage with end users to iterate and improve operational tools.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions.
  • Generous Paid Time Off and company-wide days off.
  • 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
  • Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Home Office Reimbursement and monthly phone/internet support.
  • Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning resources.
  • Equity opportunities for all employees.
  • Commuter Benefits for local office workers.
  • Paid time off for volunteering activities.
Full Job Description
About the Role:

Planet's Mission Control is a web-based application that empowers spacecraft operators and analysts to monitor, control, and study our growing fleet of satellites. It is flanked by a number of distributed microservices that handle spacecraft scheduling, tasking, telemetry processing, and similar operational needs. Together, these services automate much of the day-to-day operations of Planet's fleet of satellites.

You'll be a part of a team that builds, maintains, and operates these tools. Our mission is to offer a seamless interface that enables spacecraft operators, analysts, and engineers at Planet to interact effortlessly with our assets in space. We strive to minimize operational burden, and to automate all aspects of satellite operations. You will be a part of a team that will support, enable and engage with the end users to iterate on these systems. In this role, you will tackle and solve a broad array of engineering problems in a dynamic environment.

This is a full-time, remote position based in the United States or Canada. If located near an office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:
  • Maintain and augment the automation and services ultimately responsible for the operation of Planet's satellites. This includes but is not limited to:
    • Specify and implement new HTTP APIs and help improve existing ones.
    • Evaluate and choose appropriate software technologies.
    • Design and deploy critical infrastructure.
  • Contribute with a team that values open and honest communication, collaboration, self-learning and initiative to solve problems big and small.
  • Work closely with various teams across Planet, ranging from Satellite and Ground Operations, to Pipeline and Product teams to ensure the satellite constellation meets all of the needs to achieve Planet's missions.

What You Bring:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or similar.
  • 2-3 years of relevant work experience.
  • Experience in Python programming.
  • Experience in API design.
  • Experience with automated testing, code review, and documentation.
  • Experience with relational database technologies (e.g., Postgres, MySQL, etc.).
  • Experience with maintaining peer-reviewed code and continuous integration and deployment workflows and tooling like GitLab CI and Docker or similar.
  • Proficient Linux skills.
  • Ability to be a self-starter for solving problems in a dynamic environment.
  • Ability to clearly communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

What Makes You Stand Out:
  • Experience building services that leverage cloud-based infrastructure and tooling such as AWS or GCP.
  • Experience maintaining infrastructure with Ansible or similar (eg. Kubernetes, Terraform).
  • Experience working with monitoring tools like Datadog, Sentry, or equivalent.
  • Experience working in microservice environments.
  • Knowledge of aerospace concepts.

Application Deadline:

September 25, 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 Canada 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.
#LI-REMOTE

Canada Salary Range

$82,000-$102,500 CAD

San Francisco Fair Chance OrdinancePursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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. 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.

About Planet Labs

Planet Labs is an aerospace and defense company that designs and manufactures small satellites for Earth observation. The company offers services such as satellite imagery, data analysis, and geospatial insights. Planet Labs was founded in 2010 and is based in San Francisco, CA.
Learn more about Planet Labs
Size
500 employees
Industry
Founded
2010

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