Planet
Senior Program Manager, Professional Services for Defense and Intelligence
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Senior Program Manager, Professional Services for Defense and Intelligence – 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 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 the world’s toughest challenges. As we control every component—hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering—our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from diverse domains.
At Planet, we foster a people-centric culture that prioritizes team growth and company scalability. Join us and help reshape how people perceive the world.
Planet is a global company with hybrid and remote work options, hosting employees worldwide and supporting offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.
About the Role
The Senior Program Manager, Professional Services for Defense and Intelligence is an experienced technologist responsible for guiding the strategy and execution of teams across multiple projects. This role involves leading global customer engagements, ensuring successful adoption of Planet’s tools while managing complex, high-impact programs.
This is a full-time, hybrid position requiring three days in-office attendance at Planet’s Berlin, Haarlem, or London location.
Impact You’ll Deliver
- Lead and manage a team of Professional Services Solutions architects, deployment strategists, and Software Engineers.
- Apply remote sensing and geospatial expertise to support Planet’s Defense and Intelligence customers in adopting Planet Platform globally.
- Define and drive the strategy and execution of teams across multiple projects or workstreams over six- to twelve-month timeframes.
- Oversee the technical delivery of projects, ensuring alignment with global business and technology requirements.
- Own end-to-end technical oversight of major initiatives, guaranteeing delivery on time and within budget.
- Champion agile methodologies, test-driven development, and source control in team processes.
- Develop technical specifications, mitigate risks, and guide course corrections when challenges arise.
- Optimize team structure by strategically placing talent in key roles, planning long-term hiring needs, and fostering growth.
- Align team objectives with company goals, driving collaboration across Engineering, Product, and Design.
- Engage with Defense and Intelligence customers, conducting training sessions, workshops, and high-level strategy discussions.
- Drive a proactive retention strategy, considering team members’ career aspirations while championing diverse hiring.
- Hold the team accountable for performance while motivating top contributors and rebuilding underperforming members.
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What You Bring
- 6+ years of relevant work experience, with 4+ years in supervision/leadership roles.
- A degree in GIS, Computer Science, Remote Sensing, Geography, or a related field (advanced degrees are preferred).
- A proficiency in problem-solving, with the ability to adapt to dynamic situations and propose actionable solutions.
- Demonstrated technical authority to steer projects collaboratively with teammates, customers, and partners.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to persuade executives tactfully while maintaining strong relationships.
- Tangible experience influencing customer decisions across organizational levels, ensuring alignment between defense/intelligence needs and delivery.
- Specialized experience tailoring geospatial solutions for defense/intelligence, particularly in high-visibility and high-stakes environments.
- A track record of managing national security or government programs where precision and adherence to timelines are critical.
- Adaptability to work both individually and collaboratively in global teams.
- The ability to transform company objectives into structured team plans and communicate cross-functionally.
What Makes You Stand Out
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in technical geospatial or remote sensing roles.
- Direct familiarity with serving large enterprise defense and intelligence clients.
- Competence in QGIS, Esri, GDAL, or other geospatial software.
- Cloud architecture, AI, and machine learning proficiency.
- The ability to lead complex customer engagements, including workshops and training programs.
- An intrinsic focus on team retention and engagement strategies.
- Active Security Clearance (or the ability to obtain/maintain one).
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How to Apply
Application Deadline: September 29, 2026, by 11:59 PM / 23:59 CET.
Apply via this link: [INSERT LINK]
Benefits While Working at Planet
( Constitutional to employment and geographical location, based on law or policy.)
- Paid time off: Vacation, holidays, company-wide days off.
- Employee Wellness Program.
- Remote work reimbursements (home office, monthly phone, and internet costs).
- Tuition reimbursement / LinkedIn Learning access.
- Equity opportunities.
- Paid volunteering time.
- San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (applicants with arrest/conviction histories considered).
Why Belonging Matters to Us
We prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion—supporting teams across offices and global regions. At Planet, we celebrate unique perspectives, aiming to:
“Help the whole Planet—and do that, we must strive to represent all.”
If you’re driven by this humanitarian mission and passionate about sustainable innovation, we encourage you to do apply. You don’t need a perfect resume to make an impact here.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Planet is committed to:
“Building a community where everyone belongs.”
We welcome applications from all backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities regardless of race, religion, disability, gender identity, age, military status, or other protected classifications. Know your rights.
Accommodations & Privacy
Planet is an inclusive organization. If you have a disability or require accommodations during the hiring process, contact accommodations@planet.com for confidential assistance.
By applying, you acknowledge reading our:
- Planet Data Privacy Notice (California)
- Candidate Privacy Notice – GDPR (European Applicants)
AI in Our Interviewing Process
Planet enhances interview focus using Metaview AI Notetakers (where consented). Recording will be pre-notified and may be opted out of real-time. Violating candidate policy may disqualify your application.
[Candidate AI Policy](# policy-link):
During assessments or live interviews, AI tools (LLMs, deepfakes) are prohibited unless explicitly permitted byzk. For accommodations (e.g., AI-related), contact accommodations@planet.com.
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