Senior Software Engineer, Orbits R&D

About the Role:  

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will work on a small team of dedicated engineers responsible for the Flight Dynamics and Mission Planning for Planet’s fleet of satellites. The Flight Dynamics disciplines of this team include mission design, orbit determination, maneuver design and execution (with propulsion and differential-drag), and conjunction assessment & mitigation. Mission Planning is concerned with optimal scheduling of imaging and contacts for Planet’s Dove, SkySat, Pelican, and Tanager constellations. This operations research problem has a direct impact on fulfilling the business needs for the world’s largest heterogenous constellation of Earth Observation satellites. You will be responsible for architecting software, writing production-level code, and leading the development of constellation-level automation tools. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to mentor and establish the team’s software strategy. 

This is a full-time position, It can be located at our SF-Head Quarters or remote based in the United States or Canada.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Research, design and architect new software solutions for managing Flight Dynamics and Mission Planning needs for Planet's increasingly diverse fleets of satellites

• Work on complex applied mathematics problems with aerospace engineers, and provide them with software mentorship

• Directly contribute to Planet's success by improving the operations of its existing fleets of satellites, alongside enabling future missions

What You Bring:

• Advanced degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, physics or related technical field

• 8+ years of total relevant experience

• Software development experience in C++ and Python

• Experience maintaining peer-reviewed code, attention to quality including automated testing, and continuous integration and deployment

• Familiarity with orbital mechanics and space mission operations

• Ability to carry out first-principles analysis and operationalize MVP solutions

• Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills 

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Familiarity with Docker, Jenkins, JIRA, and linux-based systems

• Experience implementing one or more of the following:

  • Orbit determination and high-fidelity propagation

  • Covariance realism

  • Low-thrust mission design

  • Operations research and solving large-scale optimization problems

  • Maneuver automation 

  • Constellation management

  • Microservice software architecture 

#LI-REMOTE

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to export-controlled technology, and as such, and in accordance to applicable law, employment is only open to US citizens, US nationals, lawful permanent residents of the US or persons admitted to the US as an asylee or refugee. 

This position requires access to export controlled technology, and as such, employment will be contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access EAR and/or ITAR controlled technology pursuant to an export license approved by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, if required.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

• Extended Health and Dental Coverage

• Generous time off including vacation, holidays and company global days off 

• Comprehensive Leave Policies 

• Remote friendly work environment 

• Employee Wellness Program

• Home Office Reimbursement

• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement

• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning

• Equity Options

• Volunteering Benefits