planetlabs
Senior Camera Systems Engineer
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.