Senior Data Engineer

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 a 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. About the Role: As a Senior Data Engineer at Planet, you will own, architect and build production, enterprise‑scale data ecosystems using modern cloud technologies to power mission‑critical, customer‑facing products. You will act as a strategic partner to cross‑functional stakeholders, translating complex requirements into robust, scalable solutions. You will build and design data solutions end to end: from high‑level architecture and implementation to CI/CD, orchestration, automated QA, and seamless integration into production systems. You’ll be a senior member of the Data Team within the Software Engineering organization, which is made up of data scientists, engineers, and analysts working on similar tasks across Planet domains. Your scope will focus on the architecture and evolution of data systems supporting our global monitoring products. These products are vital offerings designed to provide persistent, high‑cadence monitoring and active intelligence, particularly for our Defence and Intelligence customers. You will collaborate closely with leadership across Product and Engineering to ensure some of our most sophisticated customers have the data required for global security and rapid decision‑making. This role is ideal for an expert data engineer looking to lead the evolution of complex systems and deliver transformative technology to the defense sector. The ideal candidate is an independent operator who thrives in a dynamic, global environment and is deeply passionate about Planet’s mission and national security solutions. This is a full‑time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Washington DC or Denver CO office 3 days per week. Impact - You’ll Own: Architect and oversee robust, high‑availability data pipelines while establishing the standards for maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing existing ecosystems. Collaborate with global product, commercial and engineering leads and peers to design and execute a long‑term data strategy for products in your scope. Drive high‑level mentorship, technical design reviews, and architectural integrity across the Data Team while setting standards for code quality. What You Bring: 10+ years of relevant experience in data engineering with a track record of technical leadership. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Expertise in designing and implementing end‑to‑end data architectures for global‑scale, customer‑facing solutions, with a focus on data integrity and efficiency. Expert‑level proficiency in Python and SQL for complex ETL/ELT pipeline construction, including event‑driven data architectures. Proactive, self‑starter mindset with the ability to lead problem‑solving initiatives in a dynamic, high‑stakes environment. Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate between technical execution and high‑level business requirements. Deep experience in maintaining enterprise‑grade, peer‑reviewed codebases and advanced CI/CD workflows using GitLab CI, Docker, and Kubernetes. Significant experience with cloud‑native architectures (GCP preferred). Experience tuning storage formats such as Parquet to ensure sub‑second query performance for consumers. What Makes You Stand Out: Experience using modern data tooling (e.g., dbt) for pipeline inputs to customer‑facing production systems. Experience leveraging Infrastructure as Code tooling (e.g. Terraform) to manage cloud architecture. Experience architecting solutions for geospatial datasets. Knowledge of earth observation and/or satellite operation concepts. Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time) Benefits While Working at Planet: 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: New York City + California Salary Range: $172,200—$215,200 USD San Francisco Salary Range: $182,900—$228,600 USD US National Salary Range: $160,600—$200,800 USD 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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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 Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein. Privacy Policy (European Applicants): By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Candidate Privacy Notice GDPR Planet Labs Europe, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein. AI in Our Interviewing Process: Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Should an interview involve use of AI interview technologies, the candidate will receive notification and have the ability to opt out both in advance and/or real‑time. Opting out will not affect one's candidacy. Candidate AI Policy: Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. 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. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io with your request for assistance. Your message will be confidential, and we will be happy to assist you. Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application. #J-18808-Ljbffr