Senior Engineering Program Manager, Planet

• The ideal candidate has deep technical expertise and experience in multiple areas of spacecraft design and manufacturing
• 10+ years of relevant experience of program management in aerospace, manufacturing or similar industry
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field
• Excellent written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, including externally to customers
• Proficiency in spoken and written German and professional working proficiency in English, the language of the company
• Experience in an engineering program management role for the development and ramp of hardware systems in a cross-functional context
• Capability to exercise creative and critical thinking in project execution
• Experience working with and managing external contract manufacturers (CMs), suppliers, and vendors to drive program success
• Excellent written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences
• Ability to travel internationally, specifically to San Francisco about 2-3 times a year
• If this job intrigues you, but you’re thinking you might not have all the qualifications, please... do apply! At Planet, we are looking for well-rounded people from around the world who can contribute to more ways than just what is listed in this job description

Desirable

• As a Senior Engineering Program Manager (EPM) at Planet you will sit at the intersection of our hardware, engineering, and external partnerships to drive complex spacecraft programs from inception to launch
• You will help set strategy, drive problem-solving efforts, eliminate roadblocks, execute on schedule, and you will be responsible for managing and communicating status and issues along the way
• This is a full-time, in-office position based in our Berlin manufacturing hub 5 days per week
• Lead satellite development programs from planning and requirements definition through critical design, build, test, and launch
• Ensure efficient execution of all program phases, including MCR, SRR, PDR, CDR, IRR, SRR, and LRR
• Develop project schedules and budgets and track performance across all project phases
• Oversee execution of technical plans at all levels, both internally and with external suppliers, including project definition, budgeting, and long-term strategic planning
• Collaborate and coordinate with external stakeholders, including suppliers, partners, vendors, and customers, to manage deliverables, technical plans, and program milestones
• Coordinate schedules, priorities, and status updates with engineering, manufacturing, teams, stakeholders, and management
• Work directly with multiple engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders to drive productivity and progress on concurrent projects
• Develop tools and processes to measure and improve engineering productivity
• Drive root cause problem-solving, identify, and eliminate blocking issues
• Work directly with Program Management, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain to drive progress on concurrent manufacturing lines and initiatives
• Lead manufacturing ramp programs from early factory engagement and readiness through key build phases into production
• Drive root cause analysis for complex engineering and manufacturing issues, identify and eliminate blocking problems, and implement robust corrective actions

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. For this reason, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to
• We understand that candidates may use various resources, including AI tools, to prepare for interviews and assessments. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools—e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If you are unsure about acceptable use, please contact your recruiter for clarification