Lead Cost Analyst / Cost Engineering Manager

Lead Cost Estimation & Modeling:

• Review project plans and specifications to develop accurate and reliable cost estimates for key projects.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to model product and production costs across development stages (e.g., Bill of Materials (BOM), tooling, labor, overhead).
• Translate engineering and production plans into financially rigorous build and ramp scenarios, identifying financial risks and reallocation opportunities.

Cost Control & Financial Strategy:

• Collaborate with program managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure the effective execution of cost control measures throughout the lifecycle of projects.
• Drive marginal cost analysis and margin forecasts for new and existing products.
• Drive cost-down roadmaps in collaboration with Design, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing, identifying levers to improve unit economics.

Strategic Financial Support & Analysis:

• Support cross-functional tradeoff decisions—such as make vs. buy, tooling investments, and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) options—with clear financial impact analysis.
• Perform ad hoc analysis as requested to support various leadership initiatives and strategic decisions.

Planning & Reporting:

• Own the forecast and budget cycles for manufacturing and engineering spend areas, ensuring transparency and accountability across teams.
• Build financial dashboards and tooling to improve visibility into BOM drivers, absorption trends, and program-level cost performance.

This role creates positive change by driving product profitability and improving unit economics for Planet's satellite imaging technology, which delivers empirical data to solve the world's toughest obstacles in environmental, humanitarian, and commercial sectors.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in a cost engineering, financial analysis, or program finance role, preferably supporting Aerospace hardware, manufacturing, or consumer electronics environment.
• Solid foundational understanding of manufacturing processes, product lifecycle management (PLM), and cost accounting principles (e.g., standard costing, variance analysis).
• Exceptional analytical and financial modeling skills, with expertise in building complex, multi-variable cost models.
• Advanced proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and Microsoft Excel.

Compensation: The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is $128,400—$160,500 USD. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity).

Benefits:

• 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

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.