Pushback Operator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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:
Planet's mission to image the world every day depends on attracting the most capable engineers, operators, and commercial leaders in our industry - and that work begins long before a candidate ever applies. As a senior individual contributor on Planet's Talent Acquisition team, the Talent Sourcer will own pipeline development for our most complex North American searches, partnering with Talent Acquisition Partners across Space Systems, Software Engineering, Commercial, and Corporate functions to identify, engage, and convert the passive talent who will help shape what Planet builds next.
This role is for a deeply experienced sourcer who can operate with full autonomy on the hardest searches we run - including senior engineering, executive, and niche technical hires - and who treats sourcing as a craft. You will report to the Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition, and work closely with hiring leaders across Planet to translate ambiguous needs into actionable pipeline.
Impact You'll Own:

• Build and own end-to-end candidate pipelines for Planet's hardest-to-fill North American roles, with a primary focus on Space Systems engineering and Commercial / G&A leadership searches.
• Partner directly with Talent Acquisition Partners across all NAM pods to identify quarterly priorities and direct your sourcing effort to where it creates the most leverage for the business.
• Develop deep market intelligence on the satellite, aerospace, earth-observation, and adjacent deep-tech talent landscapes - and translate that intelligence into actionable target lists, competitor mapping, and outreach strategy.
• Run sophisticated passive candidate engagement end-to-end: research, outreach, screening, calibration, and warm handoff to the partnering Talent Acquisition Partner.
• Lead market mapping and search strategy conversations directly with senior hiring managers and executives, including delivering candid pushback when market signals indicate a calibration misalignment.
• Cultivate long-term talent communities and referral networks for Planet's recurring high-priority skill sets, building a sourcing engine that compounds over time.
• Contribute to the team's sourcing playbook, tooling, and AI-enabled workflows - raising the standard for how sourcing is practiced across Planet.
• Operate with full autonomy on strategic and executive searches, escalating only where org-level alignment is required.

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of dedicated sourcing experience, including at least three years sourcing for technical engineering disciplines (hardware, systems, embedded, ML, software, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ownership of complex senior-level and executive searches end-to-end - from market mapping through candidate engagement, calibration, and conversion.
• Mastery of LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean search construction, GitHub, X-ray sourcing, and modern sourcing platforms (e.g., Gem, hireEZ, SeekOut), with practiced fluency in an applicant tracking system such as Greenhouse.
• Track record of building market mapping deliverables that hiring leaders rely on as a primary input to search strategy.
• Experience sourcing across multiple function types - engineering, commercial, and corporate - with the ability to context-switch and recalibrate quickly across roles.
• Quantitative grasp of sourcing performance: response rates, conversion rates, pipeline velocity, and the diagnostic instinct to know when a search needs a different angle.
• Confidence in partnering directly with senior hiring managers and executives, including delivering thoughtful pushback when the market doesn't match the brief.
• Self-directed operating style - comfortable owning ambiguous, high-stakes searches with limited inbound demand and prioritizing across multiple pods and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to craft outreach messaging that resonates with senior technical and commercial audiences.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Prior sourcing experience in space, aerospace, satellite, defense, geospatial, or adjacent deep-tech industries.
• Experience supporting executive-level (Director-and-above) searches across both technical and commercial functions.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted sourcing tools, automation workflows, or candidate intelligence platforms beyond standard ATS use.
• Background working with security-cleared talent or U.S. government / federal-adjacent hiring environments.
• Experience contributing to sourcing team standards, playbooks, training materials, or onboarding curriculum.

Application Deadline:
July, 21st, 2026 at 11:59p PT
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.
San Francisco Salary Range
San Francisco Fair Chance OrdinancePursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
#LI-REMOTE
San Francisco Salary Range
$128,400-$160,500 USD
San Francisco Fair Chance OrdinancePursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
Privacy Policy: By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
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 currently use Metaview 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.