Lead Cost Analyst / Cost Engineering Manager

Lead Cost Analyst / Cost Engineering Manager

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 worldwide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role :

Planet is currently seeking a Lead Cost Analyst / Cost Engineering Manager to join our team in San Francisco, CA. Join our high-impact Supply Chain organization and serve as a crucial link between our engineering, manufacturing, and financial planning teams. This role demands a unique blend of financial expertise and technical acumen to drive product profitability from initial concept through mass production. You will be the primary owner of our product and project costing models, responsible for ensuring financial discipline, supporting key investment decisions, and ultimately, improving our unit economics. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy translating complex technical plans into clear financial outcomes, this is the role for you.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office at least 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own :

Lead Cost Estimation & Modeling :

• Review project plans and specifications to develop accurate and reliable cost estimates for key projects.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to model product and production costs across development stages (e.g., Bill of Materials (BOM), tooling, labor, overhead).
• Translate engineering and production plans into financially rigorous build and ramp scenarios, identifying financial risks and reallocation opportunities.

Cost Control & Financial Strategy :

Strategic Financial Support & Analysis :

Planning & Reporting :

What You Bring :

What Makes You Stand Out :

Application Deadline : March 1, 2026 at 11 : 59pm PST

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.

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 $128,400 - $160,500 USD

Why 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 Belongingdreaming 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.