About this role
Engineers who want to build a manufacturing capability completely from scratch and enjoy hands-on work with satellite hardware will thrive in this role. Planet operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history and controls every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering in-house.
Working within the New Product Introduction team, the new hire will own the manufacturing side of an in-house wire harness production line across all satellite programs. Responsibilities include developing harness assembly procedures, designing tooling and fixtures, and partnering closely with electrical engineering, production technicians, quality, and supply chain teams to take harnesses from first article through qualified flight production.
What you will do
- Manage manufacturing engineering and production operations for the in-house wire harness cell across all satellite programs.
- Develop and document assembly procedures, process flows, work instructions, and cleanroom or ESD protocols.
- Scope, design, and deploy tooling, fixtures, workstations, and verification programs like continuity, HiPot, and pull-tests.
- Partner with Electrical Engineering to provide design for manufacturing and assembly feedback on new harness designs prior to release.
- Support vehicle subsystem integration, troubleshoot build issues, and drive nonconformances to resolution.
- Manage the make versus buy transition by qualifying external vendors and phasing production in-house.
- Participate in hiring and training production technicians to transition builds from prototype to flight production.
- Monitor production metrics and recommend facility or capital equipment improvements to scale capacity.
What you need
- Bring four or more years of manufacturing development experience, including direct experience with wire harness or cable assembly manufacturing.
- Hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
- Demonstrate hands-on knowledge of harness fabrication such as wire preparation, crimping, solder cup termination, shield termination, backshell installation, and potting.
- Possess working knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 3 workmanship requirements.
- Read and create harness drawings, wiring diagrams, and pinout tables.
- Use harness design and routing CAD tools like RapidHarness or SolidWorks Electrical.
- Apply SolidWorks skills to develop tooling and fixturing, verify routing and bend radius clearance, and extract useful views for work instructions.
- Exhibit hands-on experience with hardware assembly, integration, and test alongside strong technical writing skills.
Nice to have
- Experience standing up a new manufacturing cell or bringing outsourced assembly processes in-house
- Familiarity with space flight interconnect standards such as MIL-DTL-83513, MIL-DTL-22520, and NASA workmanship standards
- Experience programming and operating automated test systems and specialized processing or crimp tooling
- Active IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification or Certified IPC Trainer status
- Experience with MES or PLM software and executing continuous improvement initiatives in cleanroom environments
Benefits
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
- Health Savings Account 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
- Home Office and Commuter Benefits
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the work location policy for this role?
This is a full-time, in-office position based in the San Francisco headquarters five days per week.
What is the salary range for the position?
The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is $114,200 to $142,700 USD in San Francisco.
What kind of team will I be working with?
You will work inside the New Product Introduction team and partner closely with the Electrical Engineering harness design team, production technicians, quality, and supply chain.
Are there any specific export control requirements?
This position requires access to export-controlled information, and employment is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing.