planetlabs

Senior Camera Systems Engineer

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At a Glance

Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Experience
10+ years
Posted
2026-03-16T17:23:11-04:00

Key Requirements

Domain Knowledge

  • Defense
  • Engineering

Requirements

10+ years of experience in hardware design, with a significant focus on digital/analog imaging systems and camera hardware.

Expertise in CMOS sensor operation, including the ability to model and design practical solutions to minimize electronic noise.

Hands-on experience with high-end oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and optical test equipment (monochromators, integrating spheres).

Ability to navigate the trade-offs between power consumption, thermal dissipation, and image SNR.

Experience with Earth observation payload specifications and remote sensing mission requirements.

Experience designing electronics for the LEO environment, including knowledge of radiation mitigation and vacuum-compatible design.

Compensation & Benefits

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)

Responsibilities

Senior Camera Hardware Engineer

to serve as the lead electrical architect for our satellite imaging payloads within the Electrical Engineering team.

This role encompasses the complete electrical life cycle of our camera systems, including recommending the optimal image sensor, designing ultra-low-noise power rails, and guaranteeing high-speed data integrity from the sensor to the FPGA.

The engineer will collaborate closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal and Optical engineers to optimize the entire optical payload (camera and telescope) to meet our mission requirements.