Senior Spacecraft Qualification Engineer

About the Role:  

At Planet, we launch spacecraft early and often. From technology demonstrators to operational constellations, exceptional engineers are needed to design, manufacture, test and launch spacecraft. This role offers a unique opportunity for an engineer to take ownership of environmental testing activities supporting spacecraft production and delivery.

As a Senior Spacecraft Qualification Engineer, you will serve as the primary mechanical and environmental test engineering authority at our Berlin manufacturing site. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who enjoys hands-on work and thrives in ambiguity, with deep technical expertise, quick engineering judgment, and the ability to independently assess and resolve complex test situations while ensuring the safety of personnel and flight hardware. Coming from a dynamic aerospace environment, having completed challenging environmental test campaigns while collaborating effectively with R&D, systems, and manufacturing teams will be a solid advantage.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in our Berlin office 5 days per week. Occasional travel should be expected as part of testing and integration operations.

Impact You’ll Own:

Own environmental test execution and respond to off-nominal events: 

• Review environmental test requirements, procedures, and readiness packages for spacecraft acceptance and protoflight campaigns.
• Serve as the primary technical authority during test operations including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and thermal vacuum test operations.
• Perform hands-on operations including instrumentation setup, inspections, test monitoring, and hardware troubleshooting.
• Assess test data in real time to identify failures, anomalies, or unexpected hardware responses.
• Develop and implement technically sound recovery plans while preserving personnel safety, facility safety, and hardware integrity.

Ensure test readiness and facility capability:

• Validate test configurations, instrumentation plans, facility readiness, and hardware constraints prior to test execution.
• Coordinate with technicians and cross-functional teams to ensure safe and efficient execution of environmental test campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Supervise and assist with procurement, machining, assembly and proofloading operations of test fixtures and Ground Support Equipment (GSE).
  

Drive measurement and test data analysis: 

• Configure and validate data acquisition systems, instrumentation, and test monitoring tools.
• Analyze environmental test data to evaluate hardware performance, determine compliance, identify anomalies, and recommend next steps.

Implement continuous improvement and process development:

• Improve environmental test processes, procedures, facility capabilities, and operational efficiency and reliability.
• Develop practical solutions to recurring technical challenges and contribute to long-term reliability of environmental test operations.

Document and develop communication: 

• Generate clear test reports, anomaly investigations, and engineering recommendations based on environmental test results.
• Provide technical guidance to technicians and advise spacecraft, systems, manufacturing, and quality teams on environmental test matters.
• Develop close communication and working relationships with Engineering and Manufacturing teams. Participate in technical reviews, program status meetings, etc.

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of relevant work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal Engineering or Electro-Mechanics/Robotics Engineering. 
• Experience owning vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and thermal vacuum test campaigns for flight or flight-like hardware.
• Understanding of environmental verification methodologies, acceptance  and protoflight testing industry standards, and flight hardware handling.
• Knowledge of spacecraft systems and the interactions between structures, mechanisms, avionics, payloads, and thermal systems.
• Knowledge of structural dynamics and vibration theory (resonance and modal behavior, wave propagation, random vibration, boundary control, etc.).
• Knowledge of heat transfer principles and thermal management technology. 
• Ability to evaluate test data, identify anomalies, assess risk, make sound engineering decisions during off-nominal situations, and develop recovery plans for flight hardware.
• Proficiency in using Solidworks CAD & FEA (simulation) or equivalent. 
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing competing priorities and tight schedules.
• Ability to lead a team of technicians and work closely with international engineers in a collaborative environment.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Hands-on experience (portfolio submission encouraged).
• Experience in operating a variety of test machines as vibration shakers, thermal chambers, TVAC chambers, shock machine, as well as working with test equipment such as power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes.
• Experience building and working with DAQs for test article command/control and data gathering; well-versed with the instrumentation, usage, and data consumption from accelerometers, load cells and other DAQ sensors.
• Interest in prototyping, rapid iteration and agile processes. Experience in working in a machine shop.
• Interest in automation. Familiarity with Raspberry Pis, Node Red, or Python.

Application Deadline:

September 10, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

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