Development Lab Manager Jobs in Castro Valley, CA

About the Role:

At Planet Labs, we move fast to solve hard problems. We are looking for an R&D 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 improve physical workspaces without needing a roadmap.
• Basic competence in Linux for hardware interaction and familiarity with Altium and Solidworks for reviewing designs
• Experience managing labs or technical spaces through periods of rapid growth, successfully scaling inventory systems and infrastructure to meet team demands.
• IPC-J-STD-001 Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) or equivalent certification

Application Deadline:

June 4, 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.

• 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.