About the role
Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.
Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.
Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.
As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.
We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.
Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.
About the Role:
Planet’s Satellite Security team is the frontline defense for our global constellation. From the SuperDove to our next-gen Pelican and Tanager fleets, we ensure the integrity of the world’s most sophisticated Earth-imaging data. Our mission spans the entire lifecycle of a spacecraft: from hardware security partitioning and cryptographic key management to securing ground-to-space communications.
As a member of the Satellite Security team, you will bridge the gap between embedded systems and cybersecurity. You’ll work alongside experts in Flight Software, FPGA, and Mission Operations to build the tools that protect our assets in orbit. This is a unique opportunity for an embedded engineer to pivot into security; we provide the specialized security training—you provide the engineering rigor.
This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.
Impact You'll Own:
- Secure Tooling: Design and develop custom software security tools to protect satellite and ground systems.
- Code Integrity: Partner with senior engineers to perform security-focused code reviews on mission-critical flight and ground software.
- Mission Readiness: Maintain and optimize core security infrastructure, including Hardware Security Modules (HSMs).
- Launch Support: Configure and test launch-side equipment and support key provisioning for upcoming satellite deployments.
What You Bring:
- Education: Bachelors’ in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, or Electrical Engineering.
- Embedded Foundations: A strong grasp of embedded systems and a desire to apply that knowledge to the security domain.
- Programming: Proficiency in C (for the hardware) and Python (for the tooling).
- Communication: The ability to translate complex technical risks into actionable insights for satellite operators and project managers.
- Version Control: Experience with Git, SVN, or similar workflows.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Prior exposure to cryptography/cryptology, network security, or basic penetration testing.
- Experience in regulated industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, or Medical Devices.
- Familiarity with RTOS (Real-Time Operating Systems), bare-metal development (e.g., STM32), containerization (Docker), Linux/Unix programming experience
- Experience navigating Jira, GitHub Issues, or similar project management workflows.
Aplyr's read
Planet Labs is a leader in Earth imaging, leveraging satellite technology for diverse sectors like agriculture and urban planning, attracting talent in engineering and management.
What's promising
- •Planet Labs operates one of the largest satellite fleets, providing high-resolution Earth imagery.
- •The company supports diverse applications, from agriculture to urban planning, fostering innovation.
- •Recent hiring trends indicate growth in engineering and customer success roles across global offices.
What to watch
- •The competitive Earth imaging market poses challenges for differentiation and market share.
- •High operational costs in satellite management could impact financial sustainability.
- •Dependence on external data partnerships may limit control over service offerings.
Why Planet Labs
- •Planet Labs' daily global imagery offers unmatched frequency and coverage.
- •The company emphasizes sustainability by providing data for environmental monitoring.
- •Its diverse satellite fleet enables tailored solutions for specific industry needs.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Planet Labs
Planet Labs is a private Earth imaging company that operates a fleet of satellites to capture high-resolution images of the Earth, providing data for various applications including agriculture, forestry, and urban planning.
