Software Engineer, Platform Operations
Planet · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $158,700 / year
- United States
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Software Engineer, Platform Operations
Planet · United States
Alex Rivera
Hiring Manager · h•••••@job-boards.greenhouse.io
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Not recommended alone — most applicants never hear back.
Job highlights
- Design, build, and operate core infrastructure.
- Modernize cloud-native platform with focus on security.
- Manage Kubernetes clusters and cloud services.
- Enhance observability and operational readiness.
- Improve developer experience for internal teams.
About the role
About Planet
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
A Software Engineer in Platform Operations is responsible for helping design, build, and operate the core infrastructure that enables Planet's engineering teams to reliably deploy and scale their services with minimal friction. This role is a key contributor to the evolution of our modern cloud-native platform, focusing on security, scalability, and reliability. This position will work as part of a team that partners with software engineers across the organization to refine and improve the deployment and operational experience. The ideal candidate is excited by the opportunity to enable software engineering at scale and provide internal users a “batteries included” infrastructure experience through our internal developer platform. This is a full-time, remote position based in the United States. If located near an office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.Impact You’ll Own
- Design and implement core Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) solutions to ensure the secure and scalable operation of Planet's services.
- Actively work on major platform modernization initiatives, including the full migration from legacy tooling to new solutions.
- Manage cloud-based infrastructure services, notably our fleet of Kubernetes clusters, and associated tooling to meet internal needs and support customer-facing service level agreements.
- Enhance and maintain observability for key platform services, leveraging Grafana and other tools to establish Service Level Objectives (SLOs) and improve operational readiness.
- Implement improvements and features for core systems owned by the team, such as GKE clusters, public API gateway, and other managed infrastructure solutions.
- Collaborate with software engineering teams to refine the developer experience (DevEx) of our managed infrastructure.
What You Bring
- 4+ years of experience in a Platform Engineering, System Administration, DevOps, or Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) role.
- Deep understanding of Kubernetes, underlying compute systems, and Linux.
- Working knowledge of public clouds, particularly Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Experience with CI/CD tools (e.g. GitLab, ArgoCD), Configuration Management (e.g. Terraform, Crossplane) and GitOps principles.
- Ability to use an operational mindset and troubleshooting prowess for complex production environments.
- Experience building services in languages such as Go and Python using tools like Git, Docker, and CI/CD workflows.
- Experience building services that leverage cloud-based infrastructure and tooling such as AWS or GCP.
- Ability to collaborate and clearly communicate designs and decisions verbally and in writing.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Experience in the operational management and development of core platform systems or open-source infrastructure projects.
- Experience with maintaining highly available or operationally resilient infrastructure at very large scales or across multiple clouds.
- Practical experience with networking and network architectures as it relates to platform infrastructure.
- Experience with Observability tools and best practices.
Key skills/competency
- Software Engineering
- Platform Operations
- Infrastructure as Code
- Kubernetes
- Cloud Computing
- DevOps
- SRE
- CI/CD
- Observability
- Python/Go
Skills & topics
- Software Engineer
- Platform Operations
- DevOps
- SRE
- Kubernetes
- Cloud Computing
- GCP
- AWS
- Terraform
- CI/CD
- Python
- Go
- Infrastructure as Code
- Remote
- United States
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight platform operations, Kubernetes, and cloud experience.
- Showcase IaC skills: Emphasize Terraform, Crossplane, and GitOps in your application.
- Demonstrate cloud expertise: Detail your experience with GCP or AWS.
- Prepare for technical questions: Review Kubernetes, Linux, Go, and Python concepts.
- Understand Planet's mission: Connect your passion for space and data to their goals.
Technical preparation
Master Kubernetes and Linux fundamentals.,Practice GCP/AWS configuration and management.,Build CI/CD pipelines with GitLab/ArgoCD.,Write Infrastructure as Code with Terraform.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex production issue you solved.,How do you collaborate with software engineers?,Explain your approach to platform modernization.,How do you ensure service reliability and scalability?
Prefer to apply the usual way?
Not recommended alone — most applicants never hear back. Email the hiring manager first.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the salary range for a Software Engineer, Platform Operations at Planet?
- The US National Salary Range for this full-time position is $127,000 to $158,700 annually. Specific ranges for New York City, California, and San Francisco are higher, with San Francisco ranging from $144,500 to $180,600 USD. Actual salary depends on experience, skills, and location.
- Does Planet offer remote work for the Software Engineer, Platform Operations role?
- Yes, this is a full-time, remote position based in the United States. If you are located near a Planet office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.
- What are the key technical skills required for the Software Engineer, Platform Operations position?
- Key technical skills include 4+ years in Platform Engineering, SRE, or DevOps, deep understanding of Kubernetes and Linux, experience with public clouds (GCP/AWS), CI/CD tools, Configuration Management (Terraform/Crossplane), GitOps, and programming in Go or Python.
- What kind of career growth can I expect as a Software Engineer, Platform Operations at Planet?
- This role is a key contributor to platform modernization and offers opportunities to work on major initiatives, manage cloud services, and improve developer experience, providing significant growth in cloud-native infrastructure and operations.
- How can I prepare for the Software Engineer, Platform Operations interview at Planet?
- Prepare by brushing up on Kubernetes, Linux, public cloud platforms (GCP/AWS), CI/CD, IaC tools like Terraform, and programming in Go/Python. Be ready to discuss your experience with complex production environments and your troubleshooting skills.
- What is Planet's stance on AI in the interview process for Software Engineer, Platform Operations?
- Planet may use AI for note-taking during interviews with candidate consent. Use of AI tools by candidates during live interviews or assessments is strictly prohibited unless explicitly permitted. Contact accommodations@planet.com for AI-related accommodation requests.
- What benefits does Planet offer to its employees for this role?
- Planet offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, HSA with company contribution, generous PTO, paid parental leave, wellness programs, home office reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, equity, and commuter benefits if local to an office.
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