Senior Solutions Architect I, Pre-Sales - US Government Defense & Intelligence

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:

As a Pre-Sales Sr. Solutions Architect, you'll design complex solutions to demonstrate the value of Planet's data and services to help organizations within the United States Defense and Intelligence community overcome their earth data challenges. You'll collaborate with internal cross-functional teams, including Customer Success, Product Management, and Business Development, to act as the voice of the customer and enhance Planet's industry offerings.

The ideal candidate enjoys helping customers get the most out of their work. This role will appeal to candidates who don't mind frequent travel and are comfortable working in the defense and intelligence sector.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Arlington, VA 3 days per week. This role requires travel up to 25%.

Impact You'll Own:

• Architect and deliver solution demonstrations and presentations that highlight Planet’s offerings.
• Build relationships with customers’ technical and management staff as a trusted advisor to their business.
• Act as a senior technical advisor to the customer to recommend a solutions architecture that fits their business challenges.
• Craft the technical response to tenders, RFI’s/RFP’s, and unsolicited proposals with respect to Planet’s products and solutions.
• Partner with your sales team colleagues to architect and drive the technical strategy across customer and prospect account plans, shaping how accounts are engaged and won.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams including Customer Success, Product Management, and Business Development to act as the voice of the customer, assist with RFP and RFI preparation and submissions. 
• Attain quarterly and annual sales and operational objectives assigned by management.
• Represent the needs of Planet's Defense and Intelligence customers to Sales leadership by communicating forecasts, pipeline opportunities, deal reviews, CRM data, and customer feedback. 
• Present to key executive Government stakeholders within the US Federal Government.
• Act as a mentor to team members and lead training to drive their development.

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of experience in supporting the US Defense and Intelligence community in a technical capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Ability to travel, including internationally, up to 25%.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with GIS and Remote Sensing users within the Defense industry.
• Experience in IMINT, ISR, and related fields.
• Experience with QGIS, SocetGXP, ArcGIS, GDAL, Python, other common geospatial software packages and programming languages, and emerging technologies such as AI/ML.
• Experience designing and presenting complex systems and solutions that bridge the gap between business problems and technology to meet organizational goals, budget, and scalability needs.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a proactive working style.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
• Ability to process imagery, manipulate geospatial data, interact with APIs, and build data pipelines.
• Ability to lead technical customer engagements.
• Ability to run workshops or training sessions with users.
• Obtaining and maintaining eligibility for a US Government TS/SCI security clearance is required.

Application Deadline:

11:45p / 23:45 PT on the date stated below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. For this reason, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to.

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.

• 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.

US National Salary Range

$118,170—$147,690 USD

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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 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. Know Your Rights.

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 [email protected] 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.

AI in Our Interviewing Process: Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Should an interview involve use of AI interview technologies, the candidate will receive notification and have the ability to opt out both in advance and/or real-time. Opting out will not affect one's candidacy.

Candidate AI Policy: Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. We understand that candidates may use various resources, including AI tools, to prepare for interviews and assessments. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools—e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If you are unsure about acceptable use, please contact your recruiter for clarification. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact [email protected] with your request for assistance. Your message will be confidential, and we will be happy to assist you. Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application.