Application Guide
How to Apply for Customer Success Manager II
at Planet
🏢 About Planet
Planet operates the world's largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites, providing daily global coverage that enables organizations to monitor environmental changes, humanitarian crises, and security threats. Unlike traditional satellite companies, Planet offers timely, accessible data through a subscription model, empowering customers to make data-driven decisions for impactful stewardship. Working here means contributing to a mission that combines cutting-edge technology with real-world positive impact on a global scale.
About This Role
As a Customer Success Manager II at Planet, you'll be the primary relationship manager for Defence & Intelligence customers in Sweden, ensuring they maximize the value of Planet's satellite data throughout their contract lifecycle. This role is impactful because you'll directly influence how critical national security and intelligence organizations leverage Earth observation data for mission-critical decisions, while co-owning contract renewals and expansion opportunities in a high-stakes sector.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve conducting a virtual training session for a new Swedish defence client on using Planet's platform for maritime surveillance, followed by analyzing usage data to identify expansion opportunities. You'd likely coordinate with the sales team on an upcoming contract renewal while preparing a briefing on how a customer could leverage new satellite capabilities for their intelligence needs, all while ensuring compliance with security protocols.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Planet Is Looking For
- Has 6+ years of customer success or account management experience specifically within defence/intelligence sectors, with proven ability to navigate complex procurement processes and security protocols
- Holds or can obtain Swedish security clearance and is fluent in Swedish, with experience managing relationships with Swedish defence organizations
- Demonstrates deep domain knowledge of defence intelligence applications of geospatial data, able to advise customers on operational use cases for satellite imagery
- Possesses exceptional bilingual communication skills (Swedish and English) with experience coordinating between international sales teams and local defence customers
📝 Tips for Applying to Planet
Explicitly address your eligibility for Swedish security clearance in your application - mention any previous clearance or experience with classified projects
Highlight specific defence/intelligence customers you've managed relationships with, emphasizing how you helped them adopt and expand usage of technical products
Demonstrate your understanding of Earth observation applications in defence by mentioning specific use cases like border monitoring, disaster response, or infrastructure assessment
Showcase your experience with contract renewal processes in defence sectors, including how you've collaborated with sales teams on expansion opportunities
Include examples of how you've successfully onboarded and trained clients on complex technical products, particularly in regulated industries
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your specific experience managing defence/intelligence customer relationships and how it prepares you for Planet's high-stakes clientele", "Examples of how you've helped customers expand adoption of technical products, with quantifiable results if possible", 'Your understanding of Earth observation data applications in defence contexts and how you can be a trusted advisor', 'Your ability to navigate Swedish defence procurement processes and security requirements while coordinating with international teams']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Planet's specific satellite constellations (Dove, SkySat) and their capabilities relevant to defence applications
- → Planet's existing defence/intelligence customers and case studies (while respecting confidentiality boundaries)
- → Sweden's defence priorities and how Earth observation supports them (e.g., Arctic monitoring, border security)
- → Planet's subscription models and how they differ from traditional satellite data procurement in defence sectors
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without addressing the security clearance requirement or Swedish language proficiency
- Using generic customer success examples without defence/intelligence context
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of how satellite imagery creates value for defence organizations
- Not showing awareness of the coordination required between local Swedish operations and Planet's international teams
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!