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Calibration/Validation Intern, Lunar Pipeline

San Francisco, CA

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.

Internships at Planet:

Planet’s Summer 2026 internships are full-time, paid 12-week positions located in our San Francisco HQ Office. 

Program Dates:

  • June 1 - August 21
  • June 22 - September 11

About the Role:

The Calibration and Validation (CalVal) team supports all of Planet's satellite constellations by ensuring every pixel we deliver reports a calibrated radiometric observation in its right place on the Earth. The CalVal team applies learnings from scientific research at scale, affecting millions of images and terabytes of data. 

This role focuses on radiometric calibration for our PlanetScope SuperDove constellation using the moon as a reference target. The team is looking for a skilled software engineer to help build an image processing pipeline that stitches partial lunar images into a full-disk composite to compare against established radiometric models. The goal is to use this model to then develop an internal dashboard that can help us  monitor satellite stability and quality.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

  • Design and implement an image processing pipeline to stitch multiple lunar observations into single composite images.
  • Critically evaluate the results by comparing the composite against reference imagery and established lunar calibration models (such as ROLO).
  • Develop a web interface surfacing satellite health and performance metrics
  • Develop metrics to quantify lunar imagery pipeline performance

What You Bring:

  • Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Earth/Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
  • Experience with scientific computing in Python within a Unix/Linux environment
  • Experience conducting research projects and presenting findings
  • A hands-on, collaborative mindset with effective interpersonal skills

What Makes You Stand Out: 

  • Experience with image registration, mosaicking, and spatial transformations.
  • Knowledge of coordinate transformations, pointing geometry, or spacecraft ephemeris (e.g., SPICE).
  • Passion for photography, remote sensing, Earth science, and geography
  • Development skills in JavaScript and React
  • Experience with FastAPI, SQL, and PostgreSQL
  • Familiarity with computer vision libraries (e.g., OpenCV, scikit-image) and techniques for aligning unreferenced images.
  • Understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and version control using Git

Application Deadline:

April 13, 2026 at 11:59p PT

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.

  • Commuter Benefits
  • Paid time off for holidays and company-wide days off
  • Internet reimbursement
  • Access to LinkedIn Learning

Compensation:

The US hourly rate range for this position at the commencement of employment is $35 - $60. 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.

San Francisco Salary Range

$37 - $60 USD

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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.

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