Applied Scientist

Core responsibilities:

• Lead the "Phase 0" and "Phase A" architecture of new satellite missions, defining orbital parameters, constellation density, and system-level performance requirements.
• Invent and patent novel solutions for optical payloads, active/passive thermal management, and advanced communication links (RF and Lasercom) to ensure competitive advantage.
• Build high-fidelity, first-principles simulations to perform rapid trade studies on mission feasibility and hardware-software trade-offs.
• Publish internal whitepapers and external patent applications to secure the company’s technological moat.
• Lead the technical contribution for external proposals for Planet’s Space Business.

This role revolutionizes how complex space systems are conceptualized and deployed, moving from standard industry designs to high-performance, novel architectures that help solve the world's toughest obstacles through satellite data.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, Optical Sciences, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in satellite system design, with a specific focus on constellation-level engineering.
• Exceptional understanding of first-principles physics, including thermodynamics, orbital mechanics, and optics.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ for building custom multiphysics simulation tools.
• Hands-on experience with industry-standard analysis tools.
• Excellent communication skills to bridge the gap between theoretical research and flight-hardware production.

Benefits include:

• 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 LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

Salary ranges: New York City + California: $217,900—$272,400 USD; San Francisco: $231,500—$289,400 USD; US National: $203,300—$254,100 USD

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history, delivering an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a cloud-based platform to commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors to help solve the world's toughest obstacles.