Senior Manufacturing Production Manager

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About Planet

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. Through a revolutionary cloud-based platform, Planet delivers unparalleled Earth observation data to organizations across commercial, environmental, government, and humanitarian sectors.

As both a space company and a data company, Planet controls every stage of the process—from hardware design and manufacturing to data processing and software engineering. This creates a highly collaborative environment where experts from diverse disciplines work together to solve some of the world’s most complex challenges.

Planet is committed to building a people-first culture that prioritizes collaboration, innovation, and growth. With employees working remotely and from offices across the United States and Europe, Planet offers a truly global workplace dedicated to helping people see and understand the world in new ways.

About the Role

Planet is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Production Manager to lead the production team responsible for building bus assemblies for the Pelican V2 satellite line in Berlin.

In this leadership role, you will own the day-to-day production operations, including technician leadership, production planning, build sequencing, throughput management, and manufacturing execution. You will work closely with Engineering, Materials, and Site Leadership teams while coordinating with manufacturing teams in the United States.

This position plays a critical role in scaling the Berlin manufacturing operation, helping establish production processes, team structures, and operational rhythms from initial site setup through high-volume production.

Location: Berlin Manufacturing Center, Germany
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site (5 days per week)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow the Berlin production technician team as manufacturing operations scale.
• Own daily production execution, including shift planning, kit handover, build sequencing, and production status reviews.
• Drive key manufacturing performance metrics, including throughput, on-time delivery, and first-pass yield.
• Partner with the Berlin Engineering Manager to resolve technical issues, manage non-conformances, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Materials Manager to ensure kit availability, inventory accuracy, and rapid shortage resolution.
• Coordinate manufacturing activities with U.S.-based teams for technology transfer and integration handoffs.
• Develop training programs and support technician development as the organization grows.
• Establish and lead daily, weekly, and executive-level production review meetings.
• Manage escalation responses for production delays, rework requirements, and program-critical priorities.
• Promote and enforce safety, quality, and export-control compliance standards, including ITAR and EAR requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of manufacturing experience, including at least 4+ years leading production teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading technician teams within regulated manufacturing environments such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, semiconductors, or similar industries.
• Strong experience with kit-based or work-order-driven production systems.
• Expertise in production scheduling, planning, and resource management.
• Experience working with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platforms.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• Hands-on approach to problem-solving and operational leadership.
• Professional proficiency in English.
• Ability to work effectively across U.S. and German teams, cultures, and time zones.
• Eligibility to work in Germany. Visa sponsorship may be available for exceptional candidates.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to quickly learn and apply new engineering concepts.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong coaching and team-development capabilities.
• Experience scaling manufacturing operations from greenfield startup through production ramp-up.
• Background in satellite, spacecraft, or aerospace manufacturing.
• German language proficiency or willingness to learn.
• Experience operating within ITAR/EAR-controlled manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting dual-site or globally distributed manufacturing operations.

Export Control Requirements

This position requires access to U.S. and German/EU export-controlled information. Employment is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without requiring additional export licensing from German, European Union, or United States authorities.

Benefits & Perks

• Paid vacation, holidays, and company-wide days off.
• Employee Wellness Program.
• Home Office Reimbursement.
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Equity participation.
• Paid Volunteer Time Off.

Application Deadline

September 17, 2026 at 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

Belonging at Planet

Planet is committed to fostering a culture of belonging where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and enable us to better serve our mission.

If this opportunity excites you but you do not meet every qualification listed, we still encourage you to apply. We value well-rounded individuals who bring unique experiences, perspectives, and potential.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Planet is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Accessibility & Accommodations

Planet is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process. Candidates requiring accommodations may contact the recruiting team to discuss their needs confidentially.

Privacy & Candidate Information

By applying for this position, candidates acknowledge and consent to the collection, processing, and storage of personal information in accordance with Planet’s applicable privacy policies for applicants.

AI Interview & Candidate AI Policy

• Planet may use AI-powered note-taking tools during select interviews with candidate consent.
• Candidates will be informed in advance and may opt out without affecting their application status.
• The use of AI tools, including large language models, deep-fake technologies, or similar systems, is prohibited during live interviews and assessments unless explicitly authorized.
• Questions regarding acceptable AI usage or accommodation requests should be directed to the recruiting team.

Join Planet

Join Planet and help build the technology, infrastructure, and manufacturing capabilities that enable organizations worldwide to better understand and protect our planet.

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