Senior Data Visualization Engineer

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:  

In our increasingly data-driven world, it’s more important than ever for our customers and prospects to have accessible ways to view and understand the uses and value of Planet data. That’s where data visualization is essential. Our team’s goal is to make Planet’s data and platform more accessible and understandable. You will be joining the Data Visualization Team, which sits inside of the Marketing Department. This “DataViz” team is part of Marketing’s Creative Group, along with web developers and graphic designers.

We’re looking for a spatial thinker with a passion for remote sensing analysis and visual communication to join our team. You will help the Marketing and Communications Teams leverage Planet’s platform and collection of imagery and derived data products (Planetary Variables) to create visualizations for external distribution. We’re looking for someone who’s excited about using our one-of-a-kind datasets and platform in new and compelling ways. You are intellectually curious, forward thinking, and willing to suggest and try new technologies and creative approaches.

This is a full-time, hybrid position working in our San Francisco office twice per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Find and tell stories that showcase novel applications of Planet’s unique products, and leveraging your ability to combine our imagery with complementary datasets.
• Collaborate with Marketing colleagues to understand target audiences and create graphics for content to educate customers on how Planet data can meet their needs or solve their problems.
• Assist in scoping and providing technical feedback on Marketing content, whether it’s an animation, video, datasheet or presentation deck. You’ll ensure that the data is accurately represented.
• Partner with the Media Programs Manager and the rest of the DataViz team to prepare and share imagery externally with the press, think tanks and analysts as they try to meet tight deadlines.
• Encourage and use best practices for data visualization as an expert resource within the organization.

What You Bring:

• Ability to meet tight deadlines and prioritize workloads in a dynamic, client-driven work environment without sacrificing attention to detail
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and articulating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
• 6+ years experience in relevant technical roles, preferably working with geospatial and/or remote sensing data
• Advanced knowledge of use cases for remote sensing data
• Knowledge of cartographic and data visualization best practices
• Deep expertise in manipulating vector and raster data with core geospatial software and libraries (QGIS, ArcGIS, GDAL, Avenza Geographic Imager, Avenza MAPublisher, etc.)
• Proven ability programming with Python to analyze geospatial data and interact with APIs
• Extensive experience working with the Adobe Creative Suite (especially Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator)
• Adept at learning new datasets, APIs, platforms, and technical concepts
• Experience working with remote, distributed, global teams

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Experience working in the space and/or Earth observation industry
• Working knowledge of modern and widely supported front- and back-end programming languages, libraries, and frameworks (Javascript, React, D3, NextJS, Svelte, etc.)
• Experience working with and visualizing hyperspectral data
• Advanced video and animation skills
• Experience with web mapping and/or interactive web storytelling

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 PaidTime Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off 
• 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Remote-friendly work environment 
• 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 (commission, 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 with diversity, equity and inclusion.  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.

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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.