Lead Optical Manufacturing Technician
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:
As the Lead Optical Manufacturing Technician, you will oversee and guide a team of 5 optical technicians responsible for building, testing, aligning, and characterizing optical payloads across multiple satellite programs. You will become deeply knowledgeable in the optical architecture, program milestones, and manufacturing workflows across all optics lines, enabling you to delegate effectively, ensure priorities are clear, unblock issues quickly, and maintain high technical and operational standards.
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You will serve as the primary liaison between the optics technicians in manufacturing and optomechanical/optical engineering teams, translating requirements, ensuring proper documentation and training, and maintaining an efficient communication loop. The ideal candidate combines strong optics expertise, excellent communication, proactive leadership, and the organizational rigor needed to drive multiple optical programs forward in a fast-paced environment.
This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco office 5 days per week.
Impact You'll Own:
- Lead a team of optics technicians through daily standups, clear task delegation, and continuous alignment across multiple active optical payload programs.
- Become fully fluent in the optical design, requirements, test needs, and build sequences for all optics programs (e.g., telescopes, focal planes, camera assemblies).
- Prioritize work across programs, ensuring the team is meeting deadlines, escalating blockers early, and keeping engineers informed.
- Train technicians on optical assembly, alignment, metrology, and test procedures; ensure all training and documentation is thorough and consistently followed.
- Own execution and quality standards for optical builds, including IPC cleanliness expectations, proper optical handling, and alignment best practices.
- Partner closely with optical and optomechanical engineers to resolve issues, perform root-cause analysis, request missing information, and ensure manufacturing readiness for new designs.
- Maintain a well-organized optics lab, including test equipment, metrology stations, optical benches, hardware, calibration tools, and inventory.
- Review, improve, and enforce detailed procedures and build instructions to ensure repeatability, clarity, and high-quality output.
- Report daily/weekly program status, team progress, and risks to engineering and manufacturing managers.
- Drive continuous improvement in throughput, yield, documentation, team communication, ergonomics, and workflow.
What You Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related field.
- 6+ years of hands-on experience with imaging systems, telescope builds, optical metrology, or optomechanical assemblies.
- Strong understanding of optical alignment, image quality metrics, stray light considerations, camera calibration, and radiometric/MFT calculations.
- Ability to lead or mentor technical teams—delegation, prioritization, coaching, and performance feedback.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, cross-functional), with demonstrated ability to clearly articulate needs, escalate early, and maintain strong engineering <> manufacturing alignment.
- High level of technical curiosity and the ability to ask clarifying questions when requirements, drawings, or instructions are ambiguous.
- Strong debugging and analytical skills for optomechanical and electrical subsystems.
- Proficiency with optical test equipment (interferometers, wavefront sensors, autocollimators, integrating spheres, monochromators, power meters).
- Strong organizational and documentation skills: ability to maintain clean labs, up-to-date procedures, and clear digital trails (Slack, JIRA, Confluence).
- Experience writing or modifying detailed test/assembly procedures.
- Ability to work in a high-speed, high-accountability environment with multiple deadlines and shifting priorities.
- Familiarity with laboratory safety, cleanroom practices, and handling of delicate optical components.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Prior experience as a lead, supervisor, or senior optical technician/engineer.
- Success improving a lab’s operational health: workflows, communication loops, scheduling, and throughput.
- Experience with Zemax or equivalent optical modeling tools.
- Experience onboarding, training, and up-leveling technical talent.
- Experience bridging gaps between engineering and manufacturing teams, especially during new product introduction (NPI).
- Strong systems thinking — ability to anticipate next steps, downstream impacts, and potential risks before they become issues.
- Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, or lab automation tools.
Experience bonding optics (epoxies, RTV), handling optical coatings, and completing precision alignments. - Ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-pressure environment while maintaining quality and calm leadership presence.
Application Deadline:
March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm 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.
- 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.
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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.
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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