Manufacturing Engineer

Planet Labs PBC
parental leave, paid time off, tuition reimbursement
United States, California, San Francisco
645 Harrison Street (Show on map)
Jun 27, 2025
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 a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands. About the Role: The New Product Introduction (NPI) Team is responsible for developing and scaling the assembly, integration, and test operations for our next generation of satellites. The manufacturing technicians and engineers on the team work together to establish the overall processes and work instructions for assembling and testing satellites from the component level through final spacecraft integration. As a member of the NPI team, you will collaborate closely with design engineers, test engineers, and other cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution and delivery of spacecraft. This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy hands-on work in building and testing complex products and take a methodical approach to manufacturing operations. This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco HQ 5 days per week. Impact You'll Own: Support the Assembly, Integration and Test of Satellites and subsystems Develop/document assembly procedures and work instructions Design mechanical and electrical equipment and fixtures to aid with assembly, integration, and testing Drive non-conformances to resolution and establish actionable process improvements Recommend facilities and capital equipment improvements for scaling our manufacturing processes to meet our production demand Participate in training of production technicians to transition the manufacturing line from R&D to production Provide DFM/DFA recommendations to design teams Monitor production metrics, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions What You Bring: Experience building satellites or similarly complex optical and electromechanical assemblies in a cleanroom environment 4+ years of manufacturing development experience Experience reading technical drawings Excellent SolidWorks skills to develop tooling & fixturing to interface with spacecraft and to extract useful views for use in work instructions Hands-on experience with hardware assembly, integration, and test Excellent attention to detail and technical writing skills for documenting assembly and test processes Bachelor's degree in a relevant field What Makes You Stand Out: Experience implementing successful continuous improvement processes Experience with Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software Application Deadline: September 21, 2025 by 11:59 PM PDT 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. San Francisco Salary Range $114,200 — $142,700 USD 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. 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. Know Your Rights. 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 hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.com or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you. Privacy Policy: By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein. Privacy Policy (European Applicants): By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Candidate Privacy Notice GDPR Planet Labs Europe, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.