Sr. Software Engineer, AI Research

Planet Labs

  • San Francisco, CA
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
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 is to image the entire world every day, making global change visible, accessible, and actionable. We've successfully captured daily imagery of the Earth, and now we're taking the next bold step: making this incredibly rich dataset more accessible and actionable through the power of AI.We are seeking a talented Senior Software Engineer with full stack experience and notable experience with frontend to join our AI Research team and contribute to our vision of creating a “ ”. In this role, you will play a pivotal role in building a groundbreaking, web-based chat application-a "Queryable Earth"-that will democratize access to our vast satellite imagery and analytics. This isn't just about building a chat app; it's about enabling our users to get insights from our vast geospatial database through a natural language interface, and receive instant, AI-powered answers alongside compelling visual evidence.This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to accelerate the shift in how geospatial data is consumed by end users. You will work with highly skilled Planeteers working on multi-disciplinary fields including satellites, space operations, image processing, data pipeline and analytics teams and work to co-develop AI/ML solutions for Planet's geospatial imagery. If you're passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems, thrive in a collaborative environment, and are excited by the prospect of bringing Earth intelligence to the fingertips of a global audience, we want to hear from you!This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to be in our San Francisco, HQ 3 days per week.Impact You'll Own:
  • Lead Full Stack Web App Development: Take ownership of the user interface and user experience for our new AI-powered chat application, ensuring a highly intuitive, responsive, and visually engaging experience.
  • Build the "Queryable Earth" Chat App: Design, develop, and deploy the core web application, integrating seamlessly with our AI models and data infrastructure.
  • Collaborate with AI Researchers: Work closely with our AI Research Team to understand their models and outputs, translating complex analytical results into clear, actionable, and visually rich information for end-users.
  • Develop and Integrate Backend Services: Develop robust APIs and integrate the frontend with our scalable backend services, including image retrieval, geospatial analytics, and LLM orchestration.
  • Optimize for Performance: Ensure the application delivers fast, reliable performance, handling large datasets and a high volume of user queries efficiently.
  • Implement Best Practices: Advocate for and implement best practices in web development, including clean code, testing, security, and accessibility.
  • Contribute to Architectural Decisions: Participate in discussions and decisions regarding the overall architecture of the chat application and its integration with Planet's broader platform.
What You Bring:
  • 6+ years of experience as a Full Stack Software Engineer, with a focus on modern frontend development (e.g., React, Vue, Angular, or similar frameworks).
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Statistics, or a closely related quantitative field.
  • Expertise in JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
  • Experience building and deploying robust, scalable web applications end to end including API development, cloud deployment, and scaled data processing workflows.
  • Familiarity with backend technologies (e.g., Python, Node.js, Go) and experience with RESTful APIs and database interactions.
  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) and deploying applications in a cloud environment.
  • Excellent understanding of UI/UX principles and a keen eye for design and user experience.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
What Makes You Stand Out:
  • Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Statistics, or a closely related quantitative field.
  • Experience with geospatial data, mapping libraries (e.g., Leaflet, Mapbox GL JS), or satellite imagery.
  • Familiarity with data visualization libraries (e.g., D3.js, Plotly).
  • Prior experience working with AI/ML teams or integrating AI models into production applications, especially chat interfaces and agentic workflows
Application Deadline:October 20, 2025 by 11:59 PM PDTBenefits 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$162,600—$203,200 USDWhy 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.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.

Planet Labs