Job Description
Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history.
Key Responsibilities
- At Planet, we launch spacecraft early and often. From technology demonstrators to operational constellations, exceptional engineers are needed to design, manufacture, test and launch spacecraft. This role offers a unique opportunity for an engineer to take ownership of environmental testing activities supporting spacecraft production and delivery.
- As a Senior Spacecraft Qualification Engineer, you will serve as the primary mechanical and environmental test engineering authority at our Berlin manufacturing site. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who enjoys hands-on work and thrives in ambiguity, with deep technical expertise, quick engineering judgment, and the ability to independently assess and resolve complex test situations while ensuring the safety of personnel and flight hardware. Coming from a dynamic aerospace environment, having completed challenging environmental test campaigns while collaborating effectively with R&D, systems, and manufacturing teams will be a solid advantage.
- This is a full-time, in-office position based in our Berlin office 5 days per week. Occasional travel should be expected as part of testing and integration operations.
Requirements
- 6+ years of relevant work experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal Engineering or Electro-Mechanics/Robotics Engineering.
- Experience owning vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and thermal vacuum test campaigns for flight or flight-like hardware.
- Understanding of environmental verification methodologies, acceptance and protoflight testing industry standards, and flight hardware handling.
- Knowledge of spacecraft systems and the interactions between structures, mechanisms, avionics, payloads, and thermal systems.
- Knowledge of structural dynamics and vibration theory (resonance and modal behavior, wave propagation, random vibration, boundary control, etc.).
- Knowledge of heat transfer principles and thermal management technology.
- Ability to evaluate test data, identify anomalies, assess risk, make sound engineering decisions during off-nominal situations, and develop recovery plans for flight hardware.
- Proficiency in using Solidworks CAD & FEA (simulation) or equivalent.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing competing priorities and tight schedules.
- Ability to lead a team of technicians and work closely with international engineers in a collaborative environment.
- Hands-on experience (portfolio submission encouraged).
- Experience in operating a variety of test machines as vibration shakers, thermal chambers, TVAC chambers, shock machine, as well as working with test equipment such as power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes.
- Experience building and working with DAQs for test article command/control and data gathering; well-versed with the instrumentation, usage, and data consumption from accelerometers, load cells and other DAQ sensors.
- Interest in prototyping, rapid iteration and agile processes. Experience in working in a machine shop.
- Interest in automation. Familiarity with Raspberry Pis, Node Red, or Python.
- Planet Labs Germany GmbH is authorized to receive U.S. export-controlled information at Planet under an export license issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security. This position requires access to U.S. and German/EU 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 German, EU, or U.S. authorities.
Benefits & Perks
- These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.
- Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off
- Employee Wellness Program
- Home Office Reimbursement
- Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
- Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
- Equity
- Volunteering Paid Time Off
Ready to Apply?
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