Senior Manufacturing Production Manager

About the Role

As Senior Manufacturing Production Manager in Berlin, you will lead the production team building the bus assemblies for our Pelican V2 satellite line. You will own the day‑to‑day production rhythm: technician team leadership, build sequencing, kit handover, throughput, and the manufacturing cadence that turns engineering designs into delivered hardware. You will partner closely with the Berlin Engineering Manager, Materials Manager, and the Berlin Site Director, and coordinate with the US Manufacturing team in San Francisco on bus‑to‑spacecraft integration handoff.

This is a leadership role through site bring‑up. You will help shape the production team, processes, and rhythms from initial stand‑up through scale to higher cadence over the coming years. The ideal candidate operates effectively in both bring‑up mode (validating processes, training teams, troubleshooting) and steady‑state mode (driving throughput, KPIs, continuous improvement).

This is a full‑time, in‑office position based in our Berlin Manufacturing Center 5 days a week.

Impact You’ll Own

• Lead the Berlin production technician team and grow it as the site scales
• Own the daily production rhythm: shift planning, kit handover, build sequencing, status reviews
• Drive production execution metrics: throughput, on‑time completion, first‑pass yield
• Partner with the Berlin Engineering Manager on non‑conformances, technical issues, and continuous improvement
• Coordinate with the Berlin Materials Manager on kit availability, inventory accuracy, and shortage response
• Coordinate cross‑site with the US Manufacturing team on bus‑panel handoff and tech transfer
• Train and develop production technicians as the team scales
• Establish daily and weekly production cadences (stand‑ups, build reviews, exec readouts)
• Own production response to escalations: stuck builds, rework, customer or program‑level urgency
• Live the safety, quality, and ITAR/EAR compliance culture on the manufacturing floor

What You Bring

• 6+ years of manufacturing experience with at least 4+ years leading a production team
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• History of managing complex, interdisciplinary manufacturing processes
• Experience managing a manufacturing technician team in a regulated, controlled environment (aerospace, defense, medical device, semiconductor, or similar)
• Expertise with kit‑based or work‑order‑driven production models
• Expertise with building clear and effective schedules for production planning
• Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems
• Solid people leadership: hiring, coaching, performance management
• Hands‑on attitude towards work
• Professional working proficiency in English, the language of the company
• Ability to operate effectively across US and Germany cultural and timezone differences
• Eligible to work in Germany (visa sponsorship may be considered for the right candidate)

What Makes You Stand Out

• Ability to learn new engineering concepts quickly
• Ability to implement continuous improvement processes
• Desire to lead others and coach them to their fullest potential
• Experience scaling a manufacturing site from greenfield through ramp
• Experience in satellite, spacecraft, or aerospace manufacturing
• German language skills (or willingness to learn)
• Experience operating in an ITAR/EAR‑controlled manufacturing environment
• Experience with dual‑site or distributed manufacturing operations

Benefits While Working at Planet

• Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company‑wide days off
• Employee Wellness Program
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity

Application Deadline: September 17, 2026 by 11:59 p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

Export Control Requirements:
Planet Labs Germany GmbH is authorized to receive U.S. export‑controlled information at Planet under an export license issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security. This position requires access to U.S. and German/EU 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 German, EU, or U.S. authorities.

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.