Remote Manufacturing Test Engineer Jobs in California

About the Role:

Planet's Manufacturing team is scaling in many ways, including building a new factory in Berlin, building many different kinds of spacecraft, and adding more members to the team. Every spacecraft must be extensively tested to ensure proper space operations, and our hardware test framework is an integral part of our enabling infrastructure. Its primary features are to provide an interface for test engineers to quickly write tests, and allow our technicians to easily run them in the factory. However, as our team and operations scale, so must the test framework.

This role is a software engineering role with a heavy focus on testing operations. You will report to the Software Infrastructure Team but work alongside Planet's Test Engineers, developing tests and participating in test campaigns for our spacecraft. You will discover weaknesses and deficiencies in the test framework, create plans for developing new features and improvements, then implement those plans. Some key problem areas are usability and developer productivity, framework stability and robustness, multiple hardware support, data collection and analytics, and CI/CD processes. This is a dynamic role and will require you to wear many hats as you debug hardware problems and simultaneously dive into the software internals of the test framework's infrastructure.

Impact You'll Own:

• Identify needed improvements to the hardware test framework by participating in test campaigns, developing hardware tests, and working alongside test engineers and technicians.
• Provide input to software requirements, specifications, and implementation plans, then communicate these plans to the engineering teams.
• Implement software infrastructure improvements, bugfixes, and new features.
• Participate in code reviews, brainstorming, root cause analysis, and other collaborative team discussions.

What You Bring:

• Experience building interconnected software systems that interface with many different hardware components.
• Software project planning skills - demonstrated ability to identify requirements and dependencies, organize the project into units of work, prioritize tasks, and communicate the implementation plan.
• Proficiency with python, ruby, java, C++, or similar.
• Proficiency using GNU/Linux.
• Experience writing unit tests, continuous integration pipelines, and documentation.
• 3+ years of professional software development experience.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Experience building or porting systems onto docker.
• Experience with database technologies such as SQL, InfluxDB, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, or Redis.
• A proven history of guiding the growth of complex software systems.
• Experience using AI technologies to automate parts of the software development process.

Application Deadline: August 27, 2026

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.