Lead Cost Analyst Cost Engineering Manager at Planet

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 Planets data to develop new technologies drive revenue power research and solve our worlds 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:Planet is currently seeking a Lead Cost Analyst/Cost Engineering Manager to join our team in San Francisco CA. Join our high-impact Supply Chain organization and serve as a crucial link between our engineering manufacturing and financial planning teams. This role demands a unique blend of financial expertise and technical acumen to drive product profitability from initial concept through mass production. You will be the primary owner of our product and project costing models responsible for ensuring financial discipline supporting key investment decisions and ultimately improving our unit economics. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy translating complex technical plans into clear financial outcomes this is the role for you.This is a full-time hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco office at least 3 days per week.Impact Youll Own:Lead Cost Estimation & Modeling:Review project plans and specifications to develop accurate and reliable cost estimates for key projects.Partner with Engineering Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams to model product and production costs across development stages (e.g. Bill of Materials (BOM) tooling labor overhead).Translate engineering and production plans into financially rigorous build and ramp scenarios identifying financial risks and reallocation opportunities.Cost Control & Financial Strategy:Collaborate with program managers engineers and other stakeholders to ensure the effective execution of cost control measures throughout the lifecycle of projects.Drive marginal cost analysis and margin forecasts for new and existing products.Drive cost-down roadmaps in collaboration with Design Supply Chain and Manufacturing identifying levers to improve unit economics.Strategic Financial Support & Analysis:Support cross-functional tradeoff decisionssuch as make vs. buy tooling investments and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) optionswith clear financial impact analysis.Perform ad hoc analysis as requested to support various leadership initiatives and strategic decisions.Planning & Reporting:Own the forecast and budget cycles for manufacturing and engineering spend areas ensuring transparency and accountability across teams.Build financial dashboards and tooling to improve visibility into BOM drivers absorption trends and program-level cost performance.What You Bring:Bachelors degree in Finance Accounting Engineering or a related quantitative field.10 years of experience in a cost engineering financial analysis or program finance role preferably supporting a Aerospace hardware manufacturing or consumer electronics environment.Solid foundational understanding of manufacturing processes product lifecycle management (PLM) and cost accounting principles (e.g. standard costing variance analysis).Exceptional analytical and financial modeling skills with expertise in building complex multi-variable cost models.Advanced proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g. Tableau Power BI) and Microsoft Excel.What Makes You Stand Out:Experience working on Bus systems Fabricated Metals Printed Circuit Boards or Optical payloads in a technical or procurement analyst capacity.Thorough understanding of PLM systems like Arena Teamcenter etc.Ability to analyze and manage complex structured BOMs and configurations.Ability to manage conflicting priorities with frequent context switching.MBA or advanced degree is a plus.Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority.Application Deadline:March 1 2026 at 11:59pm PSTEAR/ITAR Requirements:This position requires access to export-controlled information and as such employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidates 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 plansHealth Savings Account (HSA) with a company contributionGenerous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off16 Weeks of Paid Parental LeaveWellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Home Office ReimbursementMonthly Phone and Internet ReimbursementTuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn LearningEquityCommuter Benefits (if local to an office)Volunteering Paid Time OffCompensation: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$128400 - $160500 USDWhy we care so much about Belonging.Were 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. Thats why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belongingdreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. If this job intrigues you but youre 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 dont just fill positions we aspire to fulfill peoples 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 youre 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 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 are currently exploring AI interviewing technologies to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such with the candidates 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 ones 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 toolse.g. Large Language Models (LLMs) deep fake technology 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 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.Required Experience:Manager Key Skills Abinitio,Heavy Machinery,Airport Security,Contract Attorney,Environmental Science,Heavy Equipment Employment Type : Full Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1 Monthly Salary Salary: 128400 - 160500