Planet Labs Germany announced it has started recruiting for its upcoming satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin, with plans to hire up to 70 new employees beginning in 2026.

The company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange as PL, said the Berlin facility will double production capacity for its Pelican satellite fleet. Planet currently operates about 200 Earth observation satellites from its Berlin mission control center, which has served as the company's European headquarters for over 10 years.

The hiring includes leadership and technical positions such as director of manufacturing, mission director for constellation services, and multiple engineering roles. Planet expects to add these positions to its existing team of approximately 150 employees in Berlin.

"Berlin is a global epicenter for high-tech innovation, and we are eager to tap into the region's highly skilled talent pool to lead our newest manufacturing chapter," said Martin Polak, Managing Director of Planet Labs Germany.

Planet Labs PBC designs, builds and operates what it describes as the largest fleet of commercial Earth observation satellites. The company was founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists and provides satellite imagery and geospatial solutions to agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies, as well as government agencies.

The company said it serves more than 400 German federal institutions and has partnerships with industry clients. Additional manufacturing, operations and professional services positions will become available throughout 2026, according to the press release.