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.

The Role:

As Technical Program Manager, you would be part of a high-impact team responsible for delivering programs that support our company’s mission to image the entire Earth everyday and make global change visible, accessible, and actionable. To meet this mission you will be tasked with leading a complex set of cross-functional programs that range from operations through new product development and go-to-market.  

Operations at Planet focuses on automation as a first principle, enabling only a few mission operators to manage our fleet of over 150 satellites, schedule imaging windows, push software in orbit, and download images to 45 ground stations throughout the world. With a focus towards continuous improvement, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to evolve metric tracking, reporting, root cause & corrective actions.  

Product Development at Planet enables our data pipeline and image processing platform to deliver imagery and derived data products efficiently and effectively with easy web and API access. In partnership with Product Management & Engineering you will be responsible for delivering the agile product roadmap to both internal and external stakeholders; leading cross functional integration meetings, developing program management plans, and reporting on technical & business progress to executive staff on a regular basis. 

Go-to-Market coordination with Product Management, Global Customer Success, Sales, Marketing & Legal ensures our business is ready and enabled to begin generating revenue. The Technical Program Manager is central to leading our coordinated transition to market with mitigated risk and business readiness.

In order to be successful in this role, you will need to have prior experience in both program and technical team management as well as space, platform and business operations. A technical Bachelor's degree is required.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with cross functional teams made up of both technical and business functions with an array of talent and responsibilities to deliver programs with complex technical challenges and strategic business implications. 
• Manage day to day agile workflows, organize activities across stakeholders and ensure efficient communication across teams and executive management.
• Influence executives based on team analysis and recommendations while discussing the technical trade-offs in product, engineering and other business functions. 
• Employ new processes and manage existing processes that promote Planet’s agile aerospace approach. 
• Ensure technical and business objectives are achieved through proactive active risk and issues management, quality assurance and team performance.
• Generate and track operational metrics from different teams and multiple systems, report performance, manage quality and implement corrective action across functional organizations. 

Must Haves:

• A technical Bachelor's degree
• Minimum 5 years experience managing programs and demonstrated leadership in aerospace or similar industries where automation is heavily leveraged
• Demonstrated experience in scaled agile techniques such as scrum of scrums; the ability to connect multiple teams to deliver outcomes with predictive metrics
• Experience developing and employing a scaled agile framework across multiple organizations to scope work, track team velocity and predict future capacity  
• Experience in JIRA administration and developing reporting tools
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Can independently craft a recommendation and effectively advocate for its implementation
• Ability to work independently and lead teams in a environment with high levels of ambiguity 
• Experience working within data visualization tools

Nice to Haves:

• Experience using program management tools such as, MS Project, Smartsheets, etc
• Experience in satellite imagery, space borne or ground platforms, analytics, or Geospatial Information Systems
• Skill with python, version control/git, unix/linux, APIs
• Hands-on HW/SW design experience
• Experience in managing or operating decentralized internet-based infrastructures

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• Comprehensive Health Plan
• Wellness program and onsite massages in specific offices
• Flexible Time Off
• Recognition Programs
• Commuter Benefits
• Learning and Tuition Reimbursement
• Parental Leave
• Offsites and Happy Hours
• Volunteering Benefits

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.