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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of communications experience
- Meaningful experience in defence, aerospace, national security, government, technology, or complex B2G sectors
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, international relations, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- Strong track record securing high-quality earned media coverage in Australia
- Established relationships with relevant defence, aerospace, business, technology, and/or policy media
- Experience developing communications strategies and executing programs around announcements, partnerships, events, and executive visibility
- Exceptional written and verbal storytelling skills, editorial judgment, and 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, sovereign capability, advanced technology, and national security discussions
- Ability to simplify complex technical concepts accurately for technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, including assessing brand opportunities and reputational risks
- Experience working across cross-functional and cross-cultural teams
- Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment
- Interest in AI, autonomy, uncrewed systems, sensing, and defence technology
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials highlight comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with mental-health support and an EAP. Third-party benefits summaries also portray health coverage as a strong component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with employer matching, cited on the careers page and independent benefits directories. Multiple sources indicate a match exists, though exact formulas have varied over time and warrant confirmation.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Company communications describe equity for all full-time hires and stock benefits as part of total rewards. Independent listings also note company equity/RSUs as a standard element.
Shield AI Insights
What We Do
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
