Planet

Staff Software Engineer, Strategic Customer Engagements

United States

Not SpecifiedCompensation
Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Aerospace, Data & Analytics, Satellite Technology, Defense, SecurityIndustries

Staff Software Engineer - Global Defense & Security

Employment Type: Full-time Location Type: Remote (United States) Salary: Not Specified

Position Overview

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, delivering an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform. We are both a space company and a data company, enabling customers and users across the globe to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles. Our inspiring office environment is a mix of experts from a variety of domains, with a people-centric approach toward culture and community, iterating 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 worldwide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Staff Software Engineer to lead the development of transformative solutions for our most strategic accounts, starting with our Global Defense and Security customers. In this role, you will be embedded with key partners, acting as a technical leader and hands-on builder while collaborating closely with a team of engineers. Your mission is to tackle complex, mission-critical customer challenges, translating ambiguity into high-impact software solutions. You will have the autonomy to define, design, and build what is needed, often inventing new capabilities in the field that may later become core product features.

Your contributions will directly enable us to deliver on critical customer commitments while laying the groundwork for future market expansion. By demonstrating immediate, significant value, you will help secure larger, multi-year contracts and transform promising capabilities into impactful products that exceed customer expectations. This role is ideal for an individual contributor who enjoys dynamic environments and likes taking ownership from concept to delivery while guiding and elevating the team around them.

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

Impact You'll Own

  • Own end-to-end problem-solving with your engineering team: from discovery and decomposition to designing, building, and deploying bespoke solutions for customer challenges.
  • Architect, design, and develop robust, full-stack software, including front-end, back-end, data integration, cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS), and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Engage directly with customers, conducting technical discovery and translating operational challenges into clear technical requirements and compelling solutions.
  • Embrace rapid iteration to deliver value quickly, adapting to evolving requirements with a bias for action.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship within your team, fostering a collaborative, “player/coach” environment.
  • Identify reusable patterns in customer solutions to inform broader platform development.
  • Ensure measurable, real-world outcomes that build trust and secure long-term partnerships.
  • Support pre-sales efforts by engaging in technical discovery and contributing to solution proposals.
  • Deliver critical commitments on time, understanding their direct impact on customer relationships and business objectives.

What You Bring

  • 12+ years of relevant work experience in software engineering or in an equivalent technical role.
  • Expertise with geospatial software development and concepts (e.g., Rasterio, Fiona, Shapely, OpenLayers, GDAL).
  • Expert-le... (Content truncated)

Skills

Software Engineering
Cloud Platforms
Data Analysis
Customer Engagement
Technical Leadership
Problem Solving
Software Development
System Design
Agile Methodologies

Planet

High-resolution satellite imagery subscription service

About Planet

Planet captures high-resolution satellite images of the Earth using a fleet of small satellites called Doves. These satellites provide near-daily, detailed imagery across eight different bands, allowing clients to monitor environmental changes, manage resources, plan urban developments, and respond to disasters. The company operates on a subscription-based model, giving clients access to a vast library of images and data analytics tools. This approach ensures consistent revenue as clients require ongoing updates. Planet differentiates itself by offering customized solutions and educational resources through Planet School, helping users effectively utilize their platform. The goal of Planet is to be a leader in the geospatial intelligence market, providing valuable insights through frequent and detailed Earth observation.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2010Year Founded
$617.1MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Data & Analytics, AerospaceIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Sabbatical Leave
Remote Work Options
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Home Office Stipend
Phone/Internet Stipend
Tuition Reimbursement
Equity
Commuter Benefits
Volunteering Paid Time Off
Parental Leave

Risks

Increased competition from companies like Antaris threatens market share.
Recent layoffs may impact operational efficiency and innovation.
Expansion of partnerships may stretch resources, reducing service quality.

Differentiation

Planet operates the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites globally.
Their subscription model ensures continuous revenue from diverse sectors.
Planet's AI-driven analytics enhance satellite imagery insights significantly.

Upsides

AI-driven analytics can expand into agriculture and urban planning sectors.
Partnerships with platforms like UP42 enhance data offerings and capabilities.
Smart city management using satellite data offers new revenue streams.

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