Talent Acquisition Partner, Space Systems

Planet•San Francisco, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Planet designs, builds, and launches the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites in history — and the Space Systems organization is where that hardware comes to life. From satellite manufacturing and integration to RF engineering, thermal design, power systems, and deployable structures, this team is responsible for the physical infrastructure that makes global daily imaging possible. As we scale production for our next-generation constellations and stand up a second manufacturing hub in Berlin, the hiring demand across Space Systems is the largest and most technically complex in the company. As a Talent Acquisition Partner embedded in the Space Systems pod, you will own full-cycle recruiting for roles spanning hardware engineering, manufacturing operations, satellite integration and test, and specialized technical disciplines. You will develop deep domain expertise in the talent markets that matter most — learning the difference between an RF systems engineer and an optical designer, understanding why FPGA firmware experience matters for satellite avionics, and knowing which companies and programs produce the candidates our hiring managers need. This is a pod-based role, meaning your alignment to Space Systems is persistent — not rotational. You will build lasting relationships with hiring managers across the organization, develop a point of view on their teams and talent needs, and become a trusted partner who can anticipate demand rather than just react to it. You will work alongside a senior Talent Acquisition Partner who brings deep institutional knowledge of Space Systems hiring. This role is based in San Francisco, where Planet's headquarters and primary satellite manufacturing facility are located. Proximity to the Space Systems team, the manufacturing floor, and the engineering labs matters — it allows you to build credibility with hiring managers, attend design reviews and team events, and develop the contextual understanding that separates a great technical recruiter from a generalist filling reqs. You will report to the Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition and partner closely with your pod teammate, and Talent Operations to deliver against quarterly hiring targets while maintaining a high-quality candidate experience. This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office 3 days per week.

Requirements

4+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, with meaningful time spent hiring for hardware engineering, manufacturing, or other technical disciplines in aerospace, defense, automotive, or adjacent industries.
Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
Ability to source and close passive candidates in competitive technical markets where talent pools are limited and candidates have multiple offers.
Experience managing a high-volume requisition load (10+ concurrent searches) while maintaining quality pipeline activity and consistent hiring manager communication.
Solid technical fluency — you don't need to be an engineer, but you need to credibly discuss the difference between analog and digital circuit design, understand what a thermal vacuum test is, and learn new technical domains quickly.
Experience partnering with sourcers or coordinating with external agencies to build pipelines for hard-to-fill roles, with a clear point of view on when to self-source versus leverage support.
Proficiency with Greenhouse or a comparable ATS, including pipeline management, reporting, and structured interview workflows.
Excellent judgment on candidate assessment — you can calibrate quickly with a hiring manager, push back constructively on unrealistic requirements, and advocate for strong candidates who might not check every box.
Solid organizational skills and attention to detail — you manage multiple concurrent processes without letting candidates or hiring managers fall through the cracks.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience recruiting for satellite, spacecraft, or launch vehicle programs — you understand the engineering disciplines, the clearance requirements, and the competitive landscape.
Familiarity with export control and ITAR compliance as it relates to recruiting — understanding how citizenship and clearance requirements shape candidate pools and sourcing strategies.
Experience recruiting for manufacturing operations roles (technicians, integration specialists, test engineers) in addition to design engineering — comfortable spanning the full spectrum from hourly to senior IC.
Track record of hiring in the San Francisco Bay Area aerospace and hardware ecosystem, with an existing network in the local talent community.
Experience working in a pod-based or business unit-aligned recruiting model where you developed deep domain expertise over time rather than rotating across functions.

Responsibilities

Own full-cycle recruiting for Space Systems roles — from intake and sourcing strategy through offer negotiation and close — across hardware engineering, manufacturing, satellite integration and test, and specialized technical disciplines.
Manage a requisition load of 10–15 active searches at a time, spanning a wide range of engineering specialties including mechanical, electrical, RF, thermal, power, FPGA, and manufacturing operations.
Build deep, trusted partnerships with Space Systems hiring managers — learning their team structures, technical requirements, and growth plans so you can anticipate hiring needs and proactively build pipeline before requisitions open.
Develop domain expertise in aerospace and hardware engineering talent markets — understanding where top candidates come from, what motivates them, and how Planet's mission and technical challenges differentiate us from competitors.
Collaborate with your pod teammate to balance workload across the Space Systems portfolio, share market intelligence, and ensure coverage continuity during peak hiring periods or planned absences.
Maintain accurate pipeline data in Greenhouse, run structured pipeline reviews, and use data to identify bottlenecks, adjust sourcing strategies, and forecast delivery against quarterly targets.
Champion candidate experience throughout the process — ensuring timely communication, well-prepared interview panels, and a close process that reflects the quality of the organization candidates are joining.
Contribute to the broader TA team's evolution by sharing best practices from technical recruiting, participating in process improvement initiatives, and helping refine interview frameworks for engineering roles.