Backend Software Engineer

Remote from
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
Annual salary
Undisclosed
Salary information is not provided for this position. Check our Salary Directory to estimate the average compensation for similar roles.
Employment type
Full Time,
Job posted
Apply before
5 Jul 2026
Views / Applies
69 / 24

About Planet Labs Inc.

To image the Earth every day and make global change visible, accessible, and actionable.

Verified job posting
This job post has been manually reviewed for authenticity and compliance.

AI Summary

Planet is seeking a Backend Software Engineer to join their team in Ljubljana, Slovenia, working on the backend platform for a next-generation monitoring product that provides near real-time observability of any Earth location. The role involves implementing well-defined backend tasks, maintaining Java and Spring services, contributing to identity management with Keycloak, and supporting CI/CD pipelines using Pulumi, Docker, AWS, and GCP. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience, working knowledge of a JVM language, and familiarity with Git, REST APIs, and SQL. This hybrid position requires at least three days per week in the office and offers the chance to learn from senior engineers while shipping production changes. Planet is a global company that operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites, providing data for commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors.

Role DNA

Job Complexity
Easy Hard
Pace & Pressure
Relaxed Fast-paced
Autonomy Level
Guided Full Ownership
Communication Load
Independent Highly Collaborative
AI Insight The role is for a junior to mid-level engineer with guidance from seniors, but the domain involves complex satellite data and distributed systems, making it moderately challenging.

Salary Analysis

Median Market Rate
$120,000
US Market
$80k – $200k
0 $220k
AI Insight The offered salary is not specified in the listing, but based on the US market for a Backend Software Engineer with similar experience and responsibilities, the median is around $120,000 annually. This role is based in Slovenia, so the actual compensation may be adjusted for the local market and cost of living.

Key Skills

Java Spring REST APIs SQL Git Docker AWS CI/CD Keycloak Backend Development

Dear Hiring Team,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Backend Software Engineer position at Planet. With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and hands-on experience building RESTful APIs and working with JVM languages like Java, I am eager to contribute to your mission of making global satellite data accessible and actionable. My familiarity with Spring, version control, and SQL, along with my curiosity for distributed systems, aligns well with the responsibilities of this role.

I am particularly drawn to Planet's innovative work in the space and data industries. I thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy tackling well-scoped tasks while learning from senior engineers. My exposure to cloud technologies (AWS, Docker) and infrastructure-as-code tools would allow me to quickly contribute to your CI/CD pipelines and backend services.

I am excited about the opportunity to grow my skills in a hybrid setting in Ljubljana and would welcome the chance to discuss how my background can support Planet's next-generation monitoring platform. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

How would you design a RESTful API for a service that retrieves satellite imagery metadata?
I would start by defining the resources, such as imagery and metadata. Use proper HTTP methods (GET for retrieval, POST for creation) and version the API (e.g., /v1/imagery). Implement pagination and filtering for large datasets. Ensure authentication using OAuth2 and structure responses in JSON. Also, consider caching and rate limiting to handle high traffic.
Describe your experience with Java and Spring. Can you explain dependency injection?
I have worked with Java in several projects, using Spring Boot for microservices. Dependency injection is a core concept where Spring manages object dependencies by injecting them rather than having objects create their own. This promotes loose coupling and testability. For example, using @Autowired to inject a service into a controller.
How do you approach writing clean, maintainable code?
I follow principles like SOLID, DRY, and KISS. I write meaningful variable and method names, keep functions small, and add comments only when necessary. I also use consistent formatting and version control. Code reviews are crucial for catching issues and ensuring quality.
Can you explain the purpose of a CI/CD pipeline and how you would set one up for a Java project?
A CI/CD pipeline automates building, testing, and deploying code. For a Java project, I would use a tool like Jenkins or GitLab CI. The pipeline would include steps like compiling code, running unit tests, packaging into a JAR or Docker image, and deploying to a staging environment. Integration with version control triggers the pipeline on each push.
What strategies would you use to handle authentication and authorization in a microservices architecture?
I would implement a centralized identity provider like Keycloak using OAuth2 and OIDC. Each microservice would validate tokens against the provider. Use roles and permissions for fine-grained access. For inter-service communication, use client credentials grant. Also, consider token expiry and refresh tokens for security.

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:

We are looking for a Backend Software Engineer to help build the services that turn global satellite data into mission-critical intelligence. Our team owns the backend platform behind a next-generation monitoring product designed to provide near real-time observability of any location on Earth.

Our foundation includes environmental and agricultural monitoring, and we are evolving the platform into a scalable, reusable system. In this role, you will work on well-scoped tasks within a Java + Spring services monorepo, our Keycloak-based identity layer, and the supporting cloud infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines that keep everything shipping. You’ll learn the domain hands-on, ship changes that go to production, and grow under the guidance of more senior engineers on the pod.

This is a full-time, hybrid position based in our Ljubljana office (Slovenia). You will be expected to work from the office a minimum of 3 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

  • Implement well-defined backend tasks and small features end-to-end, with guidance from your senior engineers.
  • Develop and maintain backend services in our Java + Spring monorepo.
  • Contribute to our identity & access management stack (Keycloak).
  • Help keep our CI/CD pipelines, release automation, and supporting infrastructure (Pulumi, Docker, AWS, GCP) healthy.
  • Write clean, tested code; participate in code reviews; document what you build.
  • Communicate progress clearly, ask for help early, and grow your domain knowledge through hands-on work.

What You Bring:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (or equivalent), technical certification, or comparable practical experience (e.g. internship, working-student role, or personal projects).
  • Working knowledge of at least one programming language — ideally a JVM language (Kotlin or Java) — and willingness to ramp up quickly.
  • Familiarity with the basics: version control (Git), REST APIs, and SQL.
  • Professional working proficiency in English, the language of the company.
  • Curiosity and a desire to learn how real-world systems are built and operated.

What Makes You Stand Out:

  • Hands-on exposure to Spring or other JVM frameworks.
  • Exposure to identity & access management concepts (OAuth2 / OIDC, Keycloak, SSO).
  • Familiarity with cloud (AWS / GCP), Docker, or infrastructure-as-code tools.
  • Experience leveraging AI tools (Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT) to learn faster and write better code.
  • Experience in geospatial technologies, remote sensing, or agricultural monitoring. 

Application Deadline:

September 3, 2026 by 11:59p / 23:59 CET (Central European Time)

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

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.

Apply now >

Annual salary information is not provided for this position. Explore salary ranges for similar roles in our Salary Directory ›

This job listing has been manually reviewed by the Jobicy Trust & Safety Team for compliance with our posting guidelines, including verification of the company's legitimacy, accuracy of job details, clarity of remote work policy, and absence of misleading or fraudulent content.

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