Application Guide

How to Apply for Lead Cost Analyst / Cost Engineering Manager

at Planet

🏢 About Planet

Planet operates the world's largest Earth-imaging satellite constellation, providing daily global coverage that enables organizations to monitor environmental changes, agricultural trends, and urban development. Unlike traditional aerospace companies, Planet combines space technology with software and data analytics to democratize access to geospatial intelligence. Working here means contributing to climate monitoring, disaster response, and sustainable development through cutting-edge satellite technology.

About This Role

As Lead Cost Analyst/Cost Engineering Manager at Planet, you'll be responsible for developing accurate cost estimates for satellite manufacturing and operations while partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to optimize unit economics. This role directly impacts Planet's ability to scale its satellite constellation cost-effectively, ensuring financial viability while advancing global Earth observation capabilities. You'll translate complex engineering plans into financial scenarios that drive strategic decisions about satellite production, tooling investments, and supply chain optimization.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves analyzing Bill of Materials for upcoming satellite builds, collaborating with engineers on Design for Manufacturing tradeoffs for optical components, and developing cost models for new manufacturing processes. You might review supplier quotes for space-grade electronics, update cost forecasts based on engineering design changes, and present financial scenarios to program managers considering different satellite production ramp rates.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Planet Is Looking For

  • 10+ years of cost engineering experience in aerospace hardware or consumer electronics manufacturing, with specific expertise in satellite components, propulsion systems, or optical payloads
  • Deep understanding of manufacturing cost structures for space-grade electronics, composite materials, and precision optics used in Earth observation satellites
  • Proven ability to model Bill of Materials (BOM) costs for complex hardware systems and analyze tradeoffs between reliability, performance, and cost in space environments
  • Experience with cost accounting principles applied to low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing typical of satellite production

📝 Tips for Applying to Planet

1

Quantify your experience with satellite or aerospace hardware cost estimation - specify types of components you've costed (e.g., reaction wheels, star trackers, solar arrays)

2

Highlight specific experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) in space hardware contexts, mentioning materials or processes you've optimized

3

Demonstrate understanding of Planet's business model by discussing how cost optimization supports their daily global imaging capability

4

Include examples of cost-down roadmaps you've developed for complex hardware products, specifying percentage improvements achieved

5

Show familiarity with satellite manufacturing stages from prototype to flight units, and how cost modeling differs across these phases

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your experience with cost estimation for space hardware components and how it applies to Planet's Dove or Pelican satellite constellations", 'Specific examples of collaborating with engineering teams to optimize manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability for space environments', "How you've supported make vs. buy decisions for specialized aerospace components and the financial impact of those recommendations", 'Your approach to modeling production ramp scenarios for hardware with long lead times and complex supply chains']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Planet's satellite constellations (Dove, SkySat, Pelican) and their manufacturing partnerships
  • → Planet's recent financial reports and investor presentations to understand their scaling strategy and cost structure
  • → The specific challenges of manufacturing Earth observation satellites versus other aerospace hardware
  • → Planet's sustainability initiatives and how cost optimization supports their environmental monitoring mission

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would cost a new optical imaging payload from prototype to 100-unit production
2 How would you approach cost optimization for Planet's satellite manufacturing given their focus on daily global coverage?
3 Describe your experience with variance analysis in aerospace manufacturing and how you'd apply it to satellite production
4 What cost accounting methodologies are most appropriate for low-volume, high-complexity satellite manufacturing?
5 How would you model the financial impact of different Design for Manufacturing (DFM) choices for satellite components?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic manufacturing examples instead of aerospace/satellite-specific cost engineering experience
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of the unique cost drivers in satellite manufacturing (radiation hardening, thermal management, vibration testing)
  • Not showing how your experience connects to Planet's specific business model of operating large satellite constellations for daily imaging

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Planet!

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