Supply Chain Manager, Procurement & Logistics Operations

About the Role:  

Planet is currently seeking a Supply Chain Manager, Procurement & Logistics Operations to join our team in Berlin, Germany. Planet is opening its first European satellite manufacturing site in Berlin, where we will build Pelican, our very high-resolution satellite. As the first dedicated supply chain leader on the ground, you will build and run the procurement and logistics engine that keeps the Berlin production line supplied: from purchase order to receipt, from customs clearance to the kit on the build floor. You will work closely with our San Francisco Supply Chain team and with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality and Finance, and you will help shape how a growing European operation sources, moves and stores flight hardware. If you enjoy building processes from the ground up, thrive in a fast-paced hardware environment and want your work to help put satellites into orbit, this is the role for you.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in our Berlin office 5 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Own the purchase-order lifecycle for Berlin production, from requisition and PO placement through order acknowledgement, expediting and close-out, so material arrives on time for every build.
• Translate the Pelican build plan and BOM demand into purchasing actions, working with Material Planning to balance on-time supply against inventory investment as plans change.
• Manage day-to-day supplier performance across Europe and the US: on-time delivery, quality escapes, corrective actions and lead-time risk, escalating early with clear recovery plans.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing to qualify and onboard European suppliers, localize supply where it makes sense, and execute long-term agreements.
• Build and run inbound, outbound and intercompany logistics between the US and Germany and across Europe, including freight-forwarder management, Incoterms and cost-effective routing of high-value, sensitive flight hardware.
• Own import and export execution for Germany: customs declarations, tariff (HS/CN) classification, duty optimization, and coordination with customs brokers and our US trade-compliance team.
• Ensure shipments comply with export-control requirements (EU Dual-Use Regulation, German export controls/BAFA, and US EAR/ITAR flow-down where applicable) and with dangerous-goods rules such as those for lithium batteries.
• Run Berlin procurement transactions in our business systems (NetSuite, Coupa, PLM) and keep master data clean and accurate.
• Define and report key metrics, including supplier on-time delivery, past-due and PO aging, inventory accuracy and logistics cost.
• Write SOPs and harmonize processes with the US team so both sites operate as one supply chain.
• Help hire and develop the Berlin supply chain team as we scale.

What You Bring:

• 2+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing or logistics operations in a hardware manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years of supervisory/leadership experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Logistics or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Hands-on experience with German/EU customs and import/export processes, Incoterms and freight forwarders.
• Working knowledge of export-control and dangerous-goods regulations as they apply to shipping hardware.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP or purchasing systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Coupa) and strong spreadsheet skills (Excel or Google Sheets).
• Professional working proficiency in written and spoken English, the language of the company.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Business-fluent German.
• Experience standing up a new site, warehouse or supply chain function from scratch.
• Experience procuring PCBAs, fabricated metal parts or electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Familiarity with the EU Dual-Use Regulation, BAFA licensing, or US ITAR/EAR.
• A professional certification such as APICS CSCP/CPIM, CIPS, or an IHK qualification in purchasing and logistics.
• Ability to work across time zones with a US-based team and to manage conflicting priorities with frequent context switching.

Application Deadline:

11:45p / 23:45 CET on the date stated below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. For this reason, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to.

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.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.

• 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 
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

Compensation:

The expected starting gross salary range for this role is listed below. Individual placement within this range is determined objectively based on gender-neutral criteria such as your skills, qualifications, and professional experience. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or equity.