Senior Communications Manager

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

Come join a fast-growing team in a strategically important market to shape stories around the cutting-edge technologies that underpin Shield AI's mission: protecting service members and civilians through intelligent systems and sovereign autonomy. In this role, you will lead media relations and communications initiatives for Shield AI in Australia, building the company's reputation as a trusted, locally capable and long-term defence technology partner.

Australia is home to Shield AI Australia and its Melbourne-based engineering capability. You will help translate the substance of that local presence—including Australian engineering expertise, sensing and situational-awareness technologies, autonomy software, and collaboration with Australian defence and industry stakeholders—into credible, sustained external communications.

Working closely with the Regional Communications Lead for Asia and the Middle East, Global Communications, Australia business development, government relations, engineering, and cross-functional teams, you will support strategic business priorities and shape narratives around consequential technologies changing the defence landscape. You will serve as the in-country communications owner for Australia while connecting local proof points to Shield AI's global mission and regional growth strategy.

What you'll do:

• Earned media and press strategy

• Own and grow Shield AI's earned-media footprint in Australia, building trusted relationships with defence, aerospace, national-security, technology, business and policy journalists.

• Develop and execute proactive media strategies tied to product and technology milestones, customer and partner activity, local engineering and workforce developments, and major defence exhibitions and events.

• Identify and create high-quality opportunities for Shield AI executives, technical leaders and subject-matter experts to participate in interviews, briefings, contributed articles and other earned speaking engagements.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for Australian media inquiries, coordinating sensitive, reactive and issues communications with regional and global teams.

• Prepare spokespeople for interviews, media briefings and public engagements; manage press logistics and on-site media operations.

• Monitor news, defence-policy developments, industry trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities, risks and emerging narratives relevant to Shield AI.

Content development and storytelling

• Develop and edit Australia-focused communications materials, including press releases, bylines, executive talking points, speeches, briefing documents, media pitches, customer-safe case studies and internal communications.

• Build a repeatable local storytelling pipeline around Australian engineering, mission autonomy, AI-enabled sensing, resilient ISR, trusted local capability and allied interoperability.

• Translate complex technical concepts into concise, accurate and compelling narratives for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Localise global Shield AI messaging for Australian stakeholder priorities and public-policy context while maintaining consistency with the core brand and mission.

• Work with technical, programme, business-development and government-relations colleagues to validate claims, capture proof points and ensure disciplined external messaging.

Narrative, reputation and stakeholder positioning

• Shape and protect Shield AI's reputation as a credible, consistent and long-term contributor to Australia's defence and national-security ecosystem.

• Build a sustained drumbeat of earned visibility that demonstrates Shield AI's commitment to Australia through local talent, engineering, technology development and collaboration with Australian industry and defence stakeholders.

• Help differentiate Shield AI's local capability and technology leadership in a competitive discussion around sovereign autonomy, AI, sensing and future warfare.

• Anticipate and help manage narrative risk, including questions related to foreign ownership, sovereign capability, defence procurement, AI assurance and geopolitical sensitivities.

• Partner closely with Australia business development and government relations teams to ensure communications activity supports stakeholder engagement while maintaining appropriate independence and credibility with media.

Events and regional coordination

• Lead communications planning and execution for priority Australian events, including Land Forces, Avalon Airshow and other relevant defence, aerospace, technology and policy engagements.

• Develop integrated event communications plans covering narrative development, media targets, executive programmes, press materials, interview scheduling, on-site management and post-event follow-up.

• Coordinate with the Asia and Middle East regional team on overlapping executive visits, partner announcements and major communications moments.

• Manage external agencies, freelancers and suppliers where appropriate, setting clear scopes, standards, reporting and performance expectations.

• Travel within Australia and periodically across the Asia-Pacific region as business needs require.

Required qualifications:

• 8+ years of communications experience, including meaningful experience in defence, aerospace, national security, government, technology or other complex B2G sectors. A mix of in-house and agency experience is welcome.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, international relations, marketing or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Strong track record of securing high-quality earned media coverage in Australia, with established relationships across relevant defence, aerospace, business, technology and/or policy media.

• Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies and executing programmes around major announcements, partnerships, events and executive visibility.·       Exceptional written and verbal storytelling skills, sound editorial judgement and close attention to detail.

• Experience drafting and editing press releases, media materials, executive briefing documents, speeches, talking points and thought-leadership content.

• Familiarity with Australian defence-industry dynamics, government and stakeholder sensitivities, and public discussions around sovereign capability, advanced technology and national security.

• Ability to simplify complex technical concepts accurately for non-technical and technical audiences alike.

• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify opportunities for brand enhancement while assessing potential reputational and issues risks.

• Experience working across cross-functional and cross-cultural teams, including technical leaders, business development, government relations, external partners and senior executives.

• Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and manage multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Interest in AI, autonomy, uncrewed systems, sensing and defence technology.

Note: This role is based in Melbourne, Australia, with regular domestic travel and periodic regional travel.

Desired outcomes:

• Establish Shield AI as a recognized and trusted defence-technology voice in Australia—consistently featured, quoted and referenced in relevant media conversations on mission autonomy, AI-enabled sensing, resilient ISR and future defence capability.

• Position Australia-based and visiting Shield AI leaders as credible, informed voices in earned media, industry and policy conversations.

• Build a sustained, proactive earned-media programme that demonstrates Shield AI's long-term commitment and local contribution, rather than relying solely on news-driven announcements.

• Develop a repeatable Australia storytelling engine that turns local engineering, technology, workforce, customer-safe programme and partnership proof points into high-quality external content.

• Deliver disciplined, effective communications programmes around Land Forces, Avalon Airshow and other priority Australian engagements.

• Strengthen relationships with priority Australian journalists, editors, analysts and industry influencers so Shield AI can earn informed, accurate and high-quality coverage over time.

• Reduce reliance on regional leadership for day-to-day Australian communications execution while maintaining close alignment with regional strategy, global messaging and senior stakeholder priorities.

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Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.