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About the Role

As Senior Manufacturing Production Manager in Berlin, lead the production team for Pelican V2 satellite bus assemblies. Own daily production rhythm, including technician leadership, build sequencing, kit handover, throughput, and manufacturing cadence. Partner with Berlin Engineering and Materials Managers, and Berlin Site Director, coordinating with the US Manufacturing team for integration handoff. This leadership role involves shaping the production team, processes, and rhythms from initial standup through scale, requiring effectiveness in both bring-up (validating processes, training, troubleshooting) and steady-state modes (driving throughput, KPIs, continuous improvement).

Responsibilities

Lead and grow the Berlin production technician team.
Own daily production rhythm, including shift planning, kit handover, build sequencing, and status reviews.
Drive production execution metrics such as throughput, on-time completion, and 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, including standups, build reviews, and executive readouts.
Own production response to escalations, including stuck builds, rework, and customer or program-level urgency.
Uphold safety, quality, and ITAR/EAR compliance on the manufacturing floor.

Requirements

6+ years of manufacturing experience.
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 (e.g., aerospace, defense, medical device, semiconductor).
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 skills, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
Hands-on attitude towards work.
Professional working proficiency in English.
Ability to operate effectively across US and Germany cultural and timezone differences.
Eligible to work in Germany (visa sponsorship considered).
Ability to learn new engineering concepts quickly.
Ability to implement continuous improvement processes.
Desire to lead and coach others 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.
Ability to access U.S. and German/EU export-controlled information without additional licensing.

Location

Berlin Manufacturing Center
Berlin

Work Type

Full-time
In-office

Experience Level

6+ years of manufacturing experience
4+ years leading a production team

Education Level

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Benefits

Paid time off (vacation, holidays, company-wide days off)
Employee Wellness Program
Home Office Reimbursement
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
Tuition Reimbursement
Access to LinkedIn Learning
Equity
Volunteering Paid Time Off

About the Company

Planet uses space to help life on Earth.
Designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites.
Delivers unprecedented empirical data via a cloud-based platform to commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors.
Operates as both a space and data company.
Customers globally use Planet's data for new technologies, revenue, research, and solving world obstacles.
Controls hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering.
Fosters a people-centric culture and community, prioritizing team members and company growth.
Global company with employees working remotely worldwide and from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.
Dedicated to belonging, representing all of Planet within its offices and teams.
Encourages diverse applicants, focusing on fulfilling careers and humanitarian efforts.

Equal Opportunity

Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs.
Planet is an equal opportunity employer.
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.