Quick Facts
Planet Labs internship · at a glance
Roles open and close throughout the year. Check Planet Labs's careers portal for what is live today, and apply in the first week a role posts.
Before you applyWould your profile get you in?6 questions, under a minute. Compared with real interns who landed similar roles.Check my oddsAlso in this guide
Put real project work on your résumé, with the SQL & Database Architecture with Breaking Games or the ARCeH Data Analytics, Health Outcomes.
Explore all externships →All quick facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Planet's Greenhouse board, also embedded on the Planet careers page. Set a job alert there. A separate Planet Federal careers page exists for cleared roles; we didn't check it for student programs |
| Application window (2027–28) | Not open yet for summer 2027. Last cycle: Intern, Communications published March 7, 2026 with an April 5, 2026 deadline (11:59p PT), from an archived capture of Planet's own Greenhouse page. Expected for summer 2027: late February to March 2027, closing about early April to May 2027. Medium confidence: one dated cycle, plus Planet's 2022 blog announcing a March 2 launch week |
| Rolling? | No. Last cycle had a fixed deadline about four weeks after posting. Expect a short window |
| Eligibility | The Communications posting asks for a student currently pursuing a degree in communications, PR, journalism, marketing or a related field. It also requires the ability to access export-controlled (EAR/ITAR) information without additional licensing, which can limit non-US persons. Class year, GPA and sponsorship aren't stated in the text we read |
| Duration | 12 weeks, full time, in San Francisco. Summer 2026 start dates were June 1 to August 21 and June 22 to September 11 |
| Compensation | The summer 2026 Communications posting listed a US hourly range of $35 to $60 and a San Francisco range of $37 to $60. Planet's text frames it as a range for new hire salaries, not an intern-specific figure. Benefits listed: commuter benefits, paid holidays and company days off, internet reimbursement and LinkedIn Learning |
| Return offers | Not published as a rate. Planet's 2022 intern blog says there is no direct-to-hire program but it has hired many fellows and interns full time from past seasons; we found no newer statement |
| Locations | San Francisco headquarters office. The Communications role was hybrid, three days a week in the office. Planet has other offices, but we found no US intern role outside San Francisco |
| # Programs | No named program. Roles are posted by team: last cycle at least Communications, Optical Engineer (Space Systems) and Space Operations. We couldn't establish the total count |
Last updated: October 2026
Planet Labs posts its summer internships late, in March, not in the fall. Last cycle the intern requisitions went live on March 7, 2026, closed April 5, and started June 1 and June 22, a 12-week, full-time, paid program in San Francisco. On October 26, 2026 Planet's Greenhouse board lists 123 jobs and no US intern role. In plain words: for summer 2027 you apply in about late February to March 2027 (expected), you'll have roughly four weeks, and you intern that June.
What Is a Planet Labs Internship?
A Planet Labs internship is a 12-week, full-time, paid summer placement at Planet Labs PBC, the San Francisco company that images the Earth every day with a fleet of satellites. This isn't Planet Fitness or Planet Hollywood. Planet's summer 2026 interns were hired by team, in areas such as communications, space systems and space operations, and worked from the San Francisco headquarters. Planet's careers page says it set out in 2009 to image the entire world every day. Planet doesn't publish a class size or a conversion rate.
When Do Planet Labs Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Planet's summer program posts about 2.8 months before it starts, which is late for tech. The one dated cycle on Planet's own pages: the Intern, Communications requisition was published March 7, 2026, with a deadline of April 5 and start dates of June 1 and June 22. Planet's own 2022 blog also announced that summer program's launch the week of March 2, 2022. That's two March launches, but a third-party copy of a 2025 posting shows a May 1 deadline, so the exact window can move. We expect summer 2027 postings from late February to March 2027, with medium confidence.
No US intern requisition is open. Planet's Greenhouse board lists 123 jobs, and the only student role is a Working Student position in Berlin, Germany.
Don't wait for a fall posting; there won't be one. Set a job alert on Planet's Greenhouse board, and read the export-control language on Planet's postings before you plan to apply.
Summer 2027 requisitions expected, if the pattern holds. Last cycle's window ran from March 7 to April 5, 2026, about four weeks.
Interview season. One applicant reported five rounds over about five weeks starting in early March 2026. Expected deadline: about early April to May 2027.
Two start dates are likely, as in 2026 (June 1 and June 22), for a 12-week, full-time program in San Francisco.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Planet's mode is a short window with a hard end. Last cycle the Communications requisition had an application deadline of April 5, 2026 at 11:59p PT, about four weeks after it was published on March 7. A short window means the first days matter, and one applicant reported five interview rounds over about five weeks, so a late application leaves little room. We have one dated cycle, so confirm the deadline in the posting itself when it appears.
Which Planet Labs Internship Programs Should You Target?
Planet hires interns by team, not through a named program. These are the summer 2026 roles we could identify; all are closed.
| Role | Team and focus | Where | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern, Communications | Global Communications and Government Affairs: media tracking, weekly recaps, launch communications, press releases | San Francisco, hybrid (3 days in office) | Deadline Apr 5, 2026; US range $35 to $60/hr; degree in communications, PR, journalism or marketing |
| Intern, Optical Engineer | Space Systems, Electro-Optical Systems: optical payload alignment, assembly and testing | San Francisco | Closed; we read its text only in a university's copy, so we cite no dates or pay for it |
| Space Operations Intern | Space Operations: a hybrid software and DevOps role, per an applicant | San Francisco (reported) | Planet's own posting not found; process reported by an applicant |
Browse the Planet Greenhouse board for the current list. Planet's only student role today is a Working Student position in Berlin, which is outside the US.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
These come from the Communications posting, the only summer 2026 Planet intern text we could read from Planet's own pages.
• Education: currently pursuing a degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field.
• Time commitment: full time for 12 weeks, in San Francisco.
• Export controls: employment is contingent on the ability to access export-controlled information without additional licensing.
• Class year, GPA, sponsorship: not stated in the text we read.
Does the Export-Control Language Mean US Citizens Only?
The posting doesn't say citizenship. It says the candidate must be able to access export-controlled information without additional export licensing, which in practice can limit non-US persons, because some technical data requires a license to share with them. Whether that applies to you depends on your status, so read the exact language in the posting and ask Planet's recruiter before you invest in an application.
Profile Match · Extern Data
Could You Get In at Planet Labs? Compare Your Profile
Based on 403 software engineering interns who started their first software internship between 2024 and 2026 (public LinkedIn profiles, aggregated). Six questions, under a minute.
Which summer are you applying for?
Recruiting timelines differ by class year, so we compare you with the right group.
Which group is your school closest to?
Firms recruit on campus in tiers. We match you against admits from schools like yours.
Is your major computer science, software engineering, data science or electrical engineering?
Almost every software intern in our data studied one of these. Other majors get in, but the coursework has to show elsewhere.
How many internships, externships or research positions have you held so far?
Count anything with a real employer, mentor or principal investigator attached. Retail and food service do not count.
Has any of that experience been tech-related?
Software, data, IT, engineering or a research lab. Any size of company counts.
Do you have at least one project on your resume or LinkedIn?
Personal, class, hackathon or open-source projects all count.
Aggregated from public LinkedIn profiles of people who held the internship. No individual profile is shown. Read the cross-industry study of 2,500+ intern profiles.
What Skills Does Planet Labs Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
We can't build a skills chart, because no intern requisition is open and we could read only one from Planet's own pages. The Communications role asks for writing, an understanding of the media landscape and social platforms, and AI tools for communications work. A Space Operations applicant reported a live Python coding round on satellite data using pandas, matplotlib and numpy, not traditional data-structures questions.
Note: No skill chart: no Planet US intern requisition was open on October 26, 2026, and only one of last cycle's reqs could be read from Planet's own pages. One posting can't support percentages.
How Is Demand for Software Engineer Interns Moving Right Now?
Software engineer intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 790 in August
For Planet applicants: Planet's Greenhouse board listed 123 jobs on October 26, 2026 and none was a US internship, so the national trend below doesn't mean a role is waiting. Its intern roles posted in March last year.
Daily US job-posting counts, Sep 1–30 vs Aug 1–31, 2026. Covers under half of US postings; shows direction, not market size.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
Each skill below comes from Planet's last roles or an applicant's report, and maps to an Externship you can finish before the window opens.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Python and data handling | Space Operations applicant: live Python on satellite data (pandas, matplotlib, numpy) | SQL & Database Architecture with Breaking Games |
| Analysis and reporting | Communications: daily media tracking and a weekly recap | ARCeH Data Analytics, Health Outcomes |
| Sensors and IoT security | Optical Engineer: payload testing (title) | Hydroficient Advanced: IoT Cyber Defense |
| Stakeholder communication | Communications: press releases and briefing documents | Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Growth |
The overlap is partial. No open Externship is aerospace-specific, and none teaches press-release writing or optical engineering, so these rows build adjacent habits.
What Is the Planet Labs Application and Interview Process Like?
Planet doesn't publish its stages. The only detail comes from one applicant.
1. Apply on Greenhouse. Pick a team's requisition and apply before its deadline.
2. Recruiter screen. About 30 minutes of general interest and basic behavioral questions (applicant report).
3. Hiring manager screen. About 45 minutes of behavioral questions on past work and projects.
4. Technical screen. About 45 minutes of live coding on satellite data in Python, not traditional data-structures questions.
5. Two final rounds. A mid-level engineer, then a senior engineer, each about 30 minutes, mixing behavioral and technical depth.
That was a Space Operations Intern applicant in 2026, so other teams may differ. The same applicant got a generic rejection with little feedback.
What Students on Reddit Say
One first-hand thread covers the Planet internship process, from an applicant to the Space Operations role in 2026.
A Space Operations Intern applicant described five interview rounds over about five weeks starting in early March: a recruiter screen, a behavioral hiring manager round, live Python coding on satellite data, then two engineer rounds. The people were pleasant, but the answer was a generic rejection with no feedback, which they found frustrating.
How Do You Stand Out for a Four-Week Window?
First, apply to a specific team. Planet's intern requisitions are by function, such as Communications, Optical Engineering and Space Operations, so match your resume to one. Second, prepare for Python on real data: the engineering interview used satellite data libraries rather than classic algorithm puzzles. Third, show interest in Earth observation with a concrete example, like a dataset you've explored. Planet doesn't publish a class size, applicant counts or a conversion rate; its 2022 blog says only that it has hired many past interns and fellows.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
If you're targeting space and data companies, these recruit from the same pool:
- Rocket Lablaunch services and spacecraft, the closest space peerGuide →
- SpaceXlaunch and satellite internet with large intern classesGuide →
- Blue Originlaunch vehicles and lunar systemsGuide →
- Palantirdata analytics platforms for government and commercial customersGuide →
- NASAEarth observation and space science internshipsGuide →
Our tech internships summer 2027 guide compares calendars across software, space and hardware employers.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Planet Labs internship?
No. The summer 2026 requisitions were published on March 7, 2026 and closed on April 5, 2026, and the program has started and ended. No US intern role is open on Planet's Greenhouse board as of October 26, 2026. The next window is expected around March 2027.
When do Planet Labs internship applications open?
Planet's last dated cycle published intern requisitions on March 7, 2026 with an April 5 deadline, and its 2022 blog announced a March 2 launch week. We expect summer 2027 postings from late February to March 2027, with medium confidence, because we have only one fully dated cycle.
How long is the Planet Labs internship?
It's a 12-week, full-time, paid program at Planet's San Francisco headquarters. In 2026 the two cohorts started June 1 and June 22, running to August 21 and September 11. Expect similar dates for summer 2027, but confirm them in the posting when it appears.
How much does Planet Labs pay interns?
Planet's summer 2026 Communications posting listed a US hourly range of $35 to $60 and a San Francisco range of $37 to $60. Planet's text frames it as a range for new hire salaries, not an intern average, so the actual rate depends on the role. Benefits included commuter benefits and internet reimbursement.
Do I need to be a US citizen to intern at Planet Labs?
The posting we read doesn't say citizenship. It does require the ability to access export-controlled information without additional licensing, which can limit non-US persons. Read the exact language in the posting you apply to and ask Planet's recruiter if your status is unclear.
What roles do Planet Labs interns have?
Planet hires by team. Summer 2026 included Communications, Optical Engineer in Space Systems and Space Operations roles, based in San Francisco. Planet's requisitions are by function, so apply to a specific team rather than a general internship pool. Planet hasn't published how many interns it takes.
Is there a Planet Labs student role open now?
Only a Working Student position in Professional Services in Berlin, Germany, which is outside the US and isn't a summer internship. As of October 26, 2026, Planet's Greenhouse board listed 123 jobs, and none was a US intern, co-op or student role.
Does Planet Labs convert interns to full-time employees?
Planet publishes no conversion rate. Its 2022 intern blog says there is no direct-to-hire program after the 12 weeks, but that it has hired many fellows and interns full time from past seasons. We found no newer statement. Treat percentages on review sites as unverified.
Set a Greenhouse alert now and plan to apply in March. Between now and then, a remote Externship gives you a finished data project to talk about when Planet's four-week window opens.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
