Lab Manager, R&D

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: At Planet Labs, we move fast to solve hard problems. We are looking for an RD Lab Manager to lead our development workspace located directly adjacent to our satellite production facility. In this role, you will be the "boss of the physical space," helping our design team with their critical validation work. You will split your time between maintaining a world-class, organized lab environment and providing precision solder rework for non-flight hardware. You are someone who takes immense pride in a clean, ESD-safe workbench and thrives on the autonomy of building a space that enables ~40 engineers (EE, FPGA,RF, MW, Firmware, Mechanical, GNC, and Thermal) to do their best work. This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco Office 5 days per week. Impact You'll Own: Own the lab’s physical space by implementing and maintaining clean, ESD-safe workspaces and executing/improving organization SOPs. Perform precision SMT soldering including hot air/hot plate rework, inspecting solder joints for workmanship and handling the assembly and disassembly of PCBA subsystems. Provide direct engineering test support by setting up boards and fixtures, collecting data, and troubleshooting prototypes alongside the EE team. Maintain the equipment list, schedule routine calibrations, and coordinate with facilities for updated lab infrastructure such as power, water, and air connections. Manage inventory and consumables supply, interface with external vendors, handle kitting, and track order progress from shipment to delivery. Build rapid-prototype fixtures using 3D printers and laser cutters, and handle harness rework, wire crimping, and cable routing according to drawings. Use software infrastructure for flashing and provisioning electrical subsystems, utilizing basic Linux competence to interact with and control hardware What You Bring: 6+ years of relevant experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a scientific field Deep experience in precision SMT soldering and hot air rework, with the ability to interpret electrical schematics and drawings fluently. Proficiency with basic test instrumentation, including multimeters, bench power supplies, and oscilloscopes. Hands-on experience in a machine shop environment, including the use of 3D printers and laser cutters for rapid prototyping. A solid background in inventory management, vendor coordination, and maintaining high-quality documentation and supply chains. A commitment to high workmanship standards and the ability to manage the maintenance of deployed setups and systems. Interpersonal skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize resources among competing needs. What Makes You Stand Out: A track record of taking extreme autonomy and initiative to imp ... (truncated, view full listing at source)