Planet
Flight Dynamics Engineer, Orbits R&D
San Francisco, CA · Contract
Sponsorship not specified$114k-$143kDetected 11 days ago
PythonC++CI/CDLLMsAerospace EngineeringHardware DesignTest AutomationResearchCommunication
About the role
- As a Flight Dynamics 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.
- 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 heterogeneous constellation of Earth Observation satellites.
Responsibilities
- 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.
- Research, design, and architect new software solutions for managing Mission Design needs for Planet's increasingly diverse fleets of satellites.
- Collaborate with mission planning, flight dynamics, and ground software teams to improve the operations of existing fleets and enable future missions.
- Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply.
- Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, physics or related technical field
- 2-3 years of relevant work experience
- Experience in orbital mechanics and space mission operations
- Software development experience in C++ and Python
- Ability to carry out first-principles analysis and operationalize MVP solutions
- Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills
- What Makes You Stand Out:
- Experience with constellation and mission design trade studies
- Experience implementing one or more of the following:
- Orbit determination and high-fidelity propagation
Skills
- Welcome to Planet.
Compensation
- The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is listed below.
- The final salary range is determined by job related experience, skills and location.
- Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
- San Francisco Salary Range
- $114,200 - $142,700 USD
Benefits
- 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
- Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
- Volunteering Paid Time Off
- Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity).
Equal opportunity
- 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.
- EEO statement:
Visa & Work Authorization
- 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.
This listing is sourced directly from Planet's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.