Planet Labs

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:

We are seeking a Wildfire Data Scientist driven by the challenge of transforming cutting-edge satellite imagery into tangible solutions to prevent catastrophic wildfire. As a new member of our Natural Lands product and engineering team, your primary focus will be to translate pixels into precise indicators of wildfire hazard and exposure. You will spearhead the development of innovative data products designed to deliver clear, crucial insights directly to fire services, land managers, utilities, and government agencies — those on the front lines of wildfire around the world.

This is a unique opportunity to go beyond analyzing data to craft entirely new data-driven solutions. Your deep knowledge of wildfire behavior, fuels, and remote sensing will be critical in building products that empower organizations to make better decisions and efficiently reduce risks in the face of escalating wildfire threats.

Working at Planet, you'll have access to our unique satellite constellation that images the entire Earth every day. This position allows you to apply your expertise directly at the source of the data, shaping how this powerful global resource can become an indispensable tool for reducing wildfire frequency and severity, in the service of protecting communities and ecosystems. If you are motivated to build, innovate, and see your work directly tackle one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges, this role offers a significant platform for your expertise.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to be in our San Francisco, HQ office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Design, develop, and implement analysis pipelines for processing, analyzing, and interpreting datasets relevant to vegetation fuels and wildfire hazard.
• Apply and develop statistical, machine learning, and geospatial models to derive actionable insights from complex wildfire-related data sources.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders within the team to integrate data-driven solutions into new and existing products.
• Conduct research and stay current with the latest advancements in wildfire science, fuels modeling, remote sensing, and data science.
• Evaluate and validate model performance, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data pipeline outputs.
• Contribute technical documentation, reports, and potentially peer-reviewed publications showcasing your work and findings.
• Effectively communicate complex findings and technical details to both technical and non-technical audiences.

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of relevant professional experience in wildfire science or a closely related field.
• Excellent foundational knowledge in wildfire-related subject matter.
• Experience working with and analyzing various forms of geospatial data.
• Proficiency in Python and its common data science and geospatial libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Scikit-learn, GDAL, Rasterio, Shapely).
• Experience managing data-intensive projects, from initial conception through to analysis and reporting.
• Advanced analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Familiarity with software development practices (e.g., version control, an understanding of coding standards), though extensive software engineering expertise is not a primary requirement.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Advanced degree in a wildfire-related discipline (e.g., fire science, fire ecology, environmental science with a focus on wildfire, forestry, geography with fuels modeling experience)
• Direct experience in wildfire behavior modeling, vegetation fuels mapping, or wildfire hazard assessment.
• Experience with wildfire modeling systems (e.g., FARSITE, FlamMap, FSim, Phoenix RapidFire, Vesta Mk2)
• Experience with cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) and their associated data processing and machine learning services.
• Experience developing operational data pipelines or models.
• Demonstrated ability to write scientific reports or publications.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience working in multidisciplinary teams.

Application Deadline:

September 8, 2025 by 11:59 PM PDT

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.

San Francisco Salary Range

$162,600—$203,200 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 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 accommodations@planet.com 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.