Program Director, Hyperspectral

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 Program Director, Hyperspectral is responsible for realizing the full commercial potential of Planet’s Hyperspectral business line (aka Tanager). As the best-in-class commercial hyperspectral imager, Tanager data has significant commercial value and has only just started its journey to commercial success. The Program Director must deliver a positive financial ROI while expanding the global climate impact potential that this data has. They will achieve this aim by coordinating teams and resources across the company to ensure that the capabilities delivered by the program meet the needs of the market and with a viable business model and GTM strategy. The Program Director must be able to mobilize the salesforce, set the strategy for new hyperspectral products, and enlist the teams that will establish plans, programs and teams that maximize the chance of success. Tanager-1 launched in August 2024 and is reaching full commercial capability, thus the hyperspectral business line requires a skilled business leader to execute strategy across sales, marketing, product, finance, and legal while ensuring that Planet’s spacecraft production, ground infrastructure, data processing continues to operate a high level of performance.

The Program Director is successful through guiding the evolution and growth of the core program team to drive the top-level mission elements while enabling and empowering the executing teams. Thus, the Program Director must demonstrate an excellent 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 excellent relationships across the company. 

This is a full-time, remote position based in the United States. If located near one of our offices, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Act as the individual responsible for overall program success, ensuring that the capabilities delivered by the program meet the needs of the market and with a viable business model.
• Work with Finance, Legal, Marketing, Sales, and Product to define and articulate a business strategy that evolves with the market
• Accountable for ensuring that the program maintains close alignment to Planet’s commercial, technical and product roadmap, that it complements Planet’s other product offerings, and that there is a compelling commercial business case that finances Tanager constellation growth.
• Represent the program internally to senior leadership and the broader company. Work with the Planet exec sponsor to make sure that the program is best positioned and supported to achieve its objectives.
• Grow, lead, and manage the cross-functional 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.
• Develop and maintain high level cross-company program priorities and processes while addressing blockers to progress. Negotiate with other program or mission directors as necessary to align resources with company objectives.
• Hold overall program risk and balance risk across the various program elements, including engineering, operations, and sales.
• Act as Planet’s ambassador for the program to potential partners, customers and the press as needed.
• Support, and sometimes lead, strategic capture activities such as RFPs that support Hyperspectral commercialization.

What You Bring:

• 12+ years of relevant work experience in Program Management or similar
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
• Expertise in tasking business models and remote sensing technology.
• Ability to operate effectively and decisively in an information rich environment with minimal guidance and extended autonomy.
• 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 that enable team relationships and maximize team performance. 

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Experience working with hyperspectral data, imagery and/or product(s)
• Master’s degree in Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Geospatial Data, or similar
• PhD in Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Geospatial Data, or similar

#LI-REMOTE

Application Deadline:

October 28, 2025 by 11:59 PM PDT

EAR/ITAR Requirements:

This position requires access to 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 the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA) 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 (EAP)
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

Compensation:

The US base salary range for this full-time position at the commencement of employment is listed below.  Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job related experience, skills and location.  The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only.  Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

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.