How to apply for Director of Pre-Sales, Global Defence & Intelligence

About Planet

Planet operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites and delivers Earth-imaging data through a cloud platform. It is both a space and data company, serving commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. Employees work remotely worldwide or from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the role

The Director of Pre-Sales, Global Defence & Intelligence leads a worldwide team of Pre-Sales Solution Architects. The role focuses on technical sales, account strategy, relationship building, and solution architecting for defence and intelligence customers. This position directly supports Planet's mission by ensuring that authoritative users can apply satellite data to critical decisions.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with regional pre-sales architects to review account strategies, joining a call with a defence customer to discuss technical requirements, and collaborating with sales and product teams to tailor solutions. You would also spend time coaching team members and ensuring that proposals align with Planet's data capabilities.

Who Planet is looking for

• Experience leading pre-sales or solution architecture teams, ideally in defence, intelligence, or geospatial sectors.
• Strong background in technical sales and account strategy for complex data or software solutions.
• Ability to build relationships with government and defence stakeholders across different regions.
• Knowledge of Earth-imaging satellite data, cloud platforms, or related technologies.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience with defence and intelligence customers, including specific projects or accounts.
• Show how you have led distributed pre-sales teams across multiple countries or time zones.
• Demonstrate familiarity with Planet's satellite data products and how they are used in defence contexts.
• Use concrete examples of solution architecting that led to closed deals in technical sales.
• Mention any remote work experience, as this role is remote in Germany and Planet has a global remote workforce.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasise your track record leading pre-sales teams in defence or intelligence. Describe a specific deal where you shaped a technical solution for a government customer. Explain why Planet's satellite data is relevant to defence and intelligence missions. State your ability to work remotely and coordinate across global teams.

Research before applying

• Study Planet's satellite imaging capabilities and data products, especially those used in defence and intelligence.
• Read about Planet's existing contracts or partnerships with government agencies.
• Understand the competitive landscape for geospatial intelligence and commercial satellite data.
• Look into Planet's remote work culture and office locations to see how they support global teams.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you structure a pre-sales team to support defence and intelligence customers worldwide?
• Describe a time you influenced a complex technical sale with a government or defence client.
• What do you know about Planet's satellite constellation and data platform?
• How do you handle security and compliance requirements in defence pre-sales?
• Give an example of building relationships with stakeholders across different cultures and regions.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on commercial sales experience without addressing defence and intelligence specifics.
• Ignoring the technical aspects of satellite data or solution architecting in your application.
• Failing to show how you have managed remote or global teams, as this role is remote and worldwide.