Senior Forward Deployment Engineer, Strategic Customer Engagements U.S.
- ITAR / US person
- TS/SCI clearance
About the job
## 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 We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to help develop transformative solutions for our most strategic accounts, starting with our Global Defense and Security customers.
In this role, you will work directly with key partners, acting as a senior technical contributor and hands-on builder within a collaborative engineering team. Your mission will be to tackle complex, mission-critical customer challenges by building high-impact software solutions.
You will have a high degree of autonomy to design and build what is needed, turning ambiguous requirements into functional and reliable software. Your work will directly contribute to delivering on critical customer commitments and will help inform future product development.
This role is ideal for an individual contributor who thrives in dynamic environments and enjoys taking ownership of complex technical problems from design to delivery. ## Impact You'll Own - Spearhead the full development lifecycle from discovery and decomposition to designing, building, and deploying bespoke solutions for customer challenges. - Develop robust, full-stack software, including front-end, back-end, data integration, cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS), and CI/CD pipelines. - Collaborate directly with customers to understand operational challenges and translate them into technical requirements. - Analyze customer solutions to identify reusable patterns that inform broader platform development. - Leverage the latest AI tooling and an AI-first mindset to drive rapid iteration, deliver value quickly, and adapt to evolving requirements with a bias for action. - Mentor team members, conducts code reviews, and helps foster a collaborative engineering culture. - Execute critical commitments on time to directly support key customer relationships and business goals. ## What You Bring - 6+ years of relevant work experience in software engineering or an equivalent technical role. - Bachelor’s degree in a Computer Science or other relevant field. - Experience with geospatial software development and concepts (e.g., Rasterio, Fiona, Shapely, OpenLayers, GDAL). - AWS or GCP experience. - Proficiency in Python. - Knowledge of software engineering best practices, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, and testing methodologies. - Ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse internal and external stakeholders. - Experience with fast, iterative development cycles and an ability to adapt to shifting requirements. - Willingness to travel 30-50% to customer sites within the region. - Must have a current active security clearance (TS or TS/SCI). ## What Makes You Stand Out - Experience with JavaScript, Java, Go or C#. - Experience working with defense and security customer domains. ## Application Deadline 11:45p / 23:45 PT on the date stated below.
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. ## EAR/ITAR Requirements This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. ## Benefits While Working at Planet These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy. - 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 ## Compensation The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is listed below.
Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job related experience, skills and location. The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
US National Salary Range $160,600 - $200,800 USD ## San Francisco Fair Chance OrdinancePursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Why we care so much about Belonging. We’re dedicated to helping the whole Planet, and to do that we must strive to represent all of it within each of our offices and on all of our teams.
That’s why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belonging - dreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. 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.
We don’t just fill positions, we aspire to fulfill people’s careers, most excited about folks who are motivated by our underlying humanitarian efforts. We are a few orbits around the sun before we get to where we want to be, so we hope you’re excited to come along for the ride. EEO statement:Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply.
Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Know Your Rights. Accommodations: Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.com or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you. Privacy Policy: By clicking "Apply N
From Planet's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New ground software and IT jobs in space in District of Columbia, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Planet
Daily satellite imagery and insights about our changing planet.
Pay on its listings: 56% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Planet's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Planet
- Customer Success Manager II, Commercial Markets$121,840–$152,320/yr
- Senior Software Engineer
- UAE Armed Forces & Defense Account Executive
- Site Reliability Engineer$144,500–$180,600/yr
- Senior Flight Software Engineer$162,600–$203,200/yr
- Account Executive, Texas$105,150–$131,450/yr
More ground software and IT jobs in space
A software or IT professional?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Planet openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Planet's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.