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Salary: EUR 86,600 - 108,300 / annual
Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history, delivering empirical data via a cloud-based platform to commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. As a Senior Engineering Program Manager based in Planet's Berlin manufacturing hub, you will sit at the intersection of hardware, engineering, and external partnerships to drive complex spacecraft programs from inception to launch.
You will lead satellite development programs through all phases—from planning and requirements definition through critical design, review gates (MCR, SRR, PDR, CDR, IRR, LRR), build, test, and launch. Key responsibilities include developing project schedules and budgets, tracking performance across all phases, overseeing technical plan execution both internally and with external suppliers, and collaborating with external stakeholders including suppliers, partners, vendors, and customers to manage deliverables and program milestones.
You will coordinate schedules and priorities across engineering, manufacturing, and management teams; work directly with multiple engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders to drive productivity on concurrent projects; and develop tools and processes to measure and improve engineering productivity. You will drive root cause problem-solving to identify and eliminate blocking issues, lead manufacturing ramp programs from factory engagement through production, and implement robust corrective actions for complex engineering and manufacturing challenges.
This is a full-time, in-office position based in Berlin, 5 days per week. The role requires the ability to travel internationally to San Francisco approximately 2–3 times per year.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 10+ years of relevant experience in program management within aerospace, manufacturing, or similar industries
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field
- Proficiency in spoken and written German and professional working proficiency in English
- Experience in an engineering program management role for the development and ramp of hardware systems in a cross-functional context
- Experience working with and managing external contract manufacturers (CMs), suppliers, and vendors
- Excellent written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, including externally to customers
- Capability to exercise creative and critical thinking in project execution
- Ability to travel internationally
DESIRABLE:
- Experience with satellite manufacturing and AI&T
- Experience with customer management on satellite programs
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and analytical skills with ability to drive strategy based on data
