Engineering Program Manager — Special Projects

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history.

• The Engineering Program Manager (EPM) for Special Projects will be a fearless organizer and an excellent cross-functional leader. Working directly with the security, engineering, and cross-functional space program teams, you will drive project management efforts specifically focused on space security initiatives. In this tactical, "in-the-weeds" role, you will help establish programmatic strategy, coordinate schedules, and ruthlessly eliminate roadblocks to ensure our constellations remain secure, robust, and compliant.
• This role demands a solid baseline of technical strength. Some domain experience in cybersecurity or space security is required, along with a healthy technical aptitude is necessary to credibly navigate engineering design discussions, facilitate high-stakes technical tradeoffs, and represent the security team as a critical programmatic stakeholder across multiple concurrent satellite missions.
• This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

• 6+ years of relevant experience in engineering program management or technical project management within a dynamic hardware, software, or aerospace environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• A solid technical baseline with a "roll-up-your-sleeves" mentality, enabling you to engage deeply with complex systems and translate technical engineering constraints into high-level programmatic impacts.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to stay highly organized, manage schedule health, and drive consensus across diverse, high-stakes environments.
• Experience managing spacecraft hardware and software build and release cycles.
• Deep technical fluency in at least one spacecraft specialization (e.g., operations, avionics, software) allowing you to engage credibly with engineers on complex trade-offs.
• Familiarity with space security, hardware security, or aerospace cryptography architectures.
• A track record of successfully delivering complex hardware products through the entire development lifecycle against all odds.
• 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.
• 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 Linked In Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)