Constellation Services Mission Director, Europe
Planet
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:
The Constellation Services (CxS) Mission Director, Europe is responsible for steering initiatives that will deliver on Planet’s growing CxS business line throughout the EMEA market. This role will be responsible for programs valued over €100M to build, launch and operate a constellation of Pelican satellites for Planet and its strategic EMEA customers. This is a key strategic role for the Space Business Group and Planet as a whole. The Mission Director will achieve success by coordinating teams and resources across the company to ensure that the capabilities delivered by the program meet customer requirements and provide excellent imagery products. The Mission Director must ensure that the Pelicans delivered on orbit are healthy, productive satellites and will hire or enlist teammates that will establish plans, programs, and teams that maximize the chance for mission success. The Mission Director will coordinate with other Mission Directors and peers in Space Systems, Software Engineering, and other corporate functions to deconflict resources and balance timelines so Planet can maximize the overall success of its mission portfolio.
The Mission Director is successful through establishing a core program team to drive the top-level mission elements while enabling and empowering the executing teams. Thus, the Mission Director must demonstrate a strong commitment to Planet’s cultural values, agile principles, and servant leadership to succeed in this role. They enhance their effectiveness through generating personal credibility and building relationships across the company.
This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Berlin office 3 days per week.
Impact You’ll Own:
- Acts as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) on overall program success, ensuring that the capabilities delivered by the program meet the needs of the customer and serve the customer and Planet’s business model.
- Serves as the primary regional "bridge," ensuring that local EMEA European mission nuances and market developments are seamlessly integrated into Planet’s global strategic vision.
- Accountable for ensuring that the program maintains close alignment to Pelicans commercial, technical and product roadmap, that it complements Planet’s other High Resolution and Constellation Service product offerings
- Represents the program internally to senior leadership and the broader company.
- You will work with Space Business Group leadership to make sure that the program is best positioned and supported to achieve its objectives.
- Lead, manage, and hire the core program team. This core team has scope that reaches across divisional and organizational boundaries and has the mandate to lead the program through integrated execution.
- Develops and maintains high level cross-company program priorities and processes while addressing blockers to progress.
- Holds overall program risk and balances risk across the various program elements, including engineering, launch, and operations.
- Acts as the accountable individual for satisfying program-level requirements. If requirements need to change the Mission Director is Planet’s facilitator and negotiator of such changes between the customer and Planet.
- Supports Systems Engineering in coordinating internal requirement flow among Product/Sales and the engineering divisions.
- Works with the EPM (Engineering Program Manager) and TPM (Technical Product Manager) teams to maintain a clear view of program schedule and program-level risks to guide program strategy and execution.
- Collaborates with finance and accounting teams to develop and apply standard practices for program financial management.
- Acts as Planet’s ambassador for the program to potential partners, customers and the press as needed.
What You Bring:
- 10+ years experience in space systems development, management and/or operations
- Deep expertise in LEO satellite operations, satellite design, and what is required to deliver mission success.
- Generally knowledgeable about tasking business models and remote sensing technology.
- The ability to operate effectively and decisively in an information rich environment with minimal guidance and extended autonomy.
- The ability to make decisions that align with Planet’s technical and strategic roadmap as well as Planet’s core values.
- Willingness to hold ambiguity and risk for the organization, and to make decisions when needed to bring clarity to executing teams.
- Excellent interpersonal skills where team alignment can consistently be delivered and maintained.
- The ability to travel within Europe as needed and to California 2-3 times per year.
- Ability to maintain high availability during the start of the California workday (Pacific Time) for scheduled meetings and sporadic real-time collaboration.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Demonstrated success in developing, managing, or operating large satellite constellations
- Expertise in leading and delivering major corporate initiatives through leveraging cross-departmental teams
- Examples of proactively managing and mitigating program risk for space programs
Application Deadline:
April 30, 2026 by 23:59 GMT
Export Control Requirements:
Planet Labs Germany GmbH is authorized to receive U.S. export-controlled information at Planet under an export license issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security. This position requires access to U.S. and German/EU 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 German, EU, or U.S. authorities.
Benefits While Working at Planet:
These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.
- Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off
- Employee Wellness Program
- Home Office Reimbursement
- Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
- Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
- Equity
- Volunteering Paid Time Off
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 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 are currently exploring AI interviewing technologies 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 accommodations@planet.com 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.
