SpaceOps Associate

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 Space Ops team is in charge of maintaining the largest constellation of Earth observation satellites made up of SuperDoves, SkySats, Pelicans, and Tanagers; we ensure they are safe, healthy, and productive. We are a small team of highly-skilled engineers from offices in SF and Berlin and we are looking for a highly motivated and driven working student to join our team. As part of the Space Operations team, you will support day-to-day operations, which includes, making assessments based on data analysis, triaging and resolving anomalies, run on-orbit experiments, and testing and assisting in the rollout of software on the ground and in space. The work of the Space Operations team is essential to Planet’s success.

This role is specifically for supporting Planet’s high-resolution SkySat mission. With ~20 satellites on orbit, the core of our operations is automation; you will be writing code to automate mission operations and aggregate data into metrics. The ideal candidate is eager to learn and collaborate, is results driven and is able to work in a fast-paced environment, while working independently and as part of a team. You will be working in a collaborative environment, frequently communicating with hardware and software experts to understand anomalies, develop procedures and further develop operations processes. 

This is a part-time role (20 hours per week) for 1 year contract. The role can be remote or in-person/hybrid. 

Impact You’ll Own:

• Develop and enhance existing tools to further automate satellite operations
• Identify, triage, root cause and resolve satellite anomalies in space
• Support daily check-ins on the SkySat fleet to maintain nominal operations
• Improve existing processes and procedures for satellite operations
• Develop and maintain scripts to aggregate satellite data and generate metrics
• Use existing and new metrics for data analysis to make assessments about the performance and health of the satellites
• Lead standalone projects to evolve the way we operate our satellites

What You Bring:

• Pursuing a B.S or Graduate Degree in an Engineering, Software, or Science related field from an accredited college or technical school
• Software development experience in Python or equivalent
• Familiarity with statistical analysis, data-driven development, and data visualization 
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to collaborate across teams (remote and in-person) in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Understanding of space environment and space operations
• Understanding of DevOps and CI/CD concepts
• Experience working with large amounts of data and APIs
• Familiar with automation and software development tools ( e.g., Jenkins, Bash, and Git)
• Previous experience working on mission design or mission operations

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to export-controlled technology, and as such, and in accordance to applicable law, employment is only open to US citizens, US nationals, lawful permanent residents of the US or persons admitted to the US as an asylee or refugee. 

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Health Savings Account(HSA) with a company contribution
• Flexible Time Off in addition to holidays and company global days off 
• Generous Parental Leave
• Remote friendly work environment 
• Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity Options
• Commuter Benefits
• Volunteering Benefits

Compensation:

The US hourly rate for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is $35 per hour .  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.

This position requires access to export controlled technology, and as such, employment will be contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access EAR and/or ITAR controlled technology pursuant to an export license approved by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, if required.

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. 

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.

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