Senior Camera Systems Engineer Verified today

About the Role

Planet seeks a Senior Camera Systems Engineer to serve as the primary system architect and technical lead for next-generation satellite camera modules. You will bridge mission-level imaging goals and hardware implementation, orchestrating the end-to-end lifecycle of camera systems. You will drive requirements flowdown, lead cross-functional trade studies, and manage key technical relationships with external image sensor and camera component vendors.

You will collaborate closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal, Optical, and Flight Software teams to optimize the camera system to meet SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, Cost, and Schedule) and electro-optical performance targets.

This is a full-time, hybrid role requiring 3 days per week in the San Francisco office.

Impact You'll Own

• Translate top-level remote sensing performance requirements into clear, verifiable specifications for the camera subsystem, including image sensor, proximity electronics, lens/optical interfaces, and thermal management.
• Serve as primary technical point of contact for external image sensor foundries and camera component vendors; drive statement of work definitions, technical milestones, and critical design reviews (PDR/CDR).
• Lead camera-level trade studies balancing image quality attributes (SNR, dynamic range, MTF, radiometry) against spacecraft constraints like power consumption, thermal dissipation, and mass.
• Define and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) mapping boundaries between camera module, high-speed data serialization, image signal processing (ISP) pipeline, and host payload/spacecraft bus.
• Own end-to-end verification matrix for the camera; design and oversee execution of environmental qualification plans (vacuum, thermal, vibration) and electro-optical calibration routines.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or closely related field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 5+ years dedicated to systems engineering or technical leadership for complex digital cameras or electro-optical (EO) imaging systems.
• Track record of managing requirements traceability and flowdown across electrical, mechanical, and optical boundaries.
• Experience managing external vendors, foundries, or contract manufacturers for high-performance camera components or custom sensors.
• Deep understanding of CMOS image sensor architecture, radiometry, and camera performance budgets (tracking noise, stray light, and MTF across camera module).

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience developing camera hardware or imaging instruments for the LEO environment, including knowledge of radiation mitigation, outgassing, and vacuum-compatible design.
• Experience applying aerospace standards (NASA, ESA, or high-reliability commercial equivalents) to camera qualification, environmental testing, and hardware acceptance.
• Familiarity with hardware-level image processing (dark current correction, defective pixel masking), high-speed serialization protocols, and ground-station image calibration.

Compensation and Location

San Francisco salary range: $182,900 to $228,600 USD. This role may be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives (bonus and equity). Final salary is determined by job-related experience, skills, and location.

Export Control

This position requires access to export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing.