Senior Solutions Architect II, Pre-Sales, Middle East and North Africa
Planet Labs · Remote · United Arab Emirates · 10d ago
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:
As a Senior Pre-Sales Engineer, you'll demonstrate the value of Planet's solutions to help organizations within the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) overcome their earth data challenges. You'll also collaborate with internal cross-functional teams, including Customer Success, Product Management, and Business Development, to act as the voice of the customer to enhance Planet's industry offerings. The ideal candidate enjoys helping customers get most out of their work. This role will appeal to candidates who don’t mind frequent international travel up to 50% (primarily around MENA) and are comfortable working in the government and commercial sectors.
This is a full-time, remote position based in the United Arab Emirates. This role requires frequent international travel up to 50%. If located near an office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.
Impact You’ll Own:
- Use consultative techniques to uncover customers' pain points and business needs within their current or intended processes and ways of working, plus quantify why these needs are important.
- Build and deliver presentations and solution demonstrations highlighting technical capabilities of Planet’s platform related to addressing the customer’s business needs and pain points, plus the value that these solutions can bring to the customers business.
- Create solid relationships with customers’ technical and management staff as a trusted advisor to their business.
- Act as an advisor to the customer to recommend solutions that fit their business challenges that bring measurable value to their business.
- Assist with the response to tenders, RFI’s and RFP’s proposals with respect to product/solution information.
- Work with your sales team colleagues to determine account development plans and execute a strategy to engage customers and prospects.
- Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams including Customer Success, Product Management, and Business Development to act as the voice of the customer, assist with RFP and RFI preparation and submissions.
- Attain quarterly and annual sales and operational objectives assigned by management.
- Represent perspectives to Sales leadership, in communicating forecasts, pipeline opportunities, deal reviews, data in CRM tools, and customer feedback.
- Ability to present to key executive Government stakeholders within the MENA Region.
- Act as a mentor to team members and lead training to drive their development.
What You Bring:
- 10+ years of experience working with governments and commercial industry communities in Earth Observation within the Middle East region
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field
- Ability to travel internationally up to 50%, primarily around the MENA region, but also to Europe and the United States
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Fluency in Arabic and professional working proficiency in English, the language of the company
- Experience working with GIS and Remote Sensing
- Experience in IMINT, ISR, and related fields
- Experience with QGIS, SocetGXP, ArcGIS, GDAL and other common geospatial software packages
- Ability to successfully communicate and coordinate with international customers & sales team
- Excellent problem-solving skills and proactive working style
- Ability to multitask, prioritize and manage time effectively
- Ability to program with Python to process imagery, manipulate vector data, interact with APIs and build data pipelines
- Solid self-leadership and ability to lead customer engagements
- Ability to run workshops or training sessions with users
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Experience writing technical proposals for government tenders
- Experience of value based solution selling and/or consulting selling techniques
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.
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
This role is eligible to receive commission.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
AI in Our Interviewing Process: Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's 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 one's 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 tools—e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.—is 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 accommodations@planet.com 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.