External Communications Lead

Description

Company Description:

Spirit Electronics is a veteran-owned, woman-owned small business that excels at semiconductor design and manufacturing solutions for the aerospace and defense markets. With a history rooted in serving the military and space industries, Spirit strives to be a valued partner to key technology sectors. As an award-winning distributor, Spirit provides mission-critical components and specialized engineering services for the technologies shaping humanity's future in space and advancing next-generation defense capabilities—from foundry access, ASIC design and precision testing to custom design, assembly, and up screen qualification.

Position Overview

The External Communications Lead will lead all external communications, media relations, and CEO visibility initiatives. This is a strategic role that bridges media/PR execution with thought leadership positioning and narrative architecture in the aerospace/defense sector, serving as the primary communications strategist for the organization. The successful candidate will be a strategic storyteller, identifying high-impact opportunities, developing compelling narratives around Spirit's capabilities and market position, and pursuing targeted relationships with media, industry analysts, and strategic partners, including line card suppliers. The position reports directly to the Senior Director of Marketing.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue targeted media opportunities, journalists, and publications covering new space and new defense sectors
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key industry journalists, analysts, and conference organizers in aerospace/defense
• Respond to media inquiries with accuracy and speed
• Pitch compelling story angles that position Spirit's advanced capabilities and market relevance to media contacts
• Identify, pitch, and secure CEO/leadership speaking opportunities, panel discussions, and thought leadership placements
• Work with senior management to develop executive positioning strategy, talking points, and compelling narratives aligned with Spirit's market positioning and competitive differentiation
• Identify marketing and business development contacts at key supplier companies and initiate strategic co-marketing conversations
• Evaluate emerging opportunities and industry landscape shifts to recommend high-impact positioning and partnership initiatives
• Serve as strategic advisor to leadership on media, analyst, and partnership opportunities and market positioning
  
  

Requirements

• 5-10 years PR/communications/media relations experience (any industry)
• 2 years recent aerospace/defense, defense contracting, space, or highly regulated sector experience
• Demonstrated success securing executive media placements and speaking opportunities
• Relationship builder: Track record of establishing and maintaining strong connections with journalists, analysts, industry influencers, and strategic partners
• Strategic communicator: Ability to develop compelling narratives and positioning that resonate with diverse audiences
• Excellent writing ability across multiple formats: positioning documents, thought leadership pieces, and media materials
• Self-directed in identifying emerging opportunities and proactively pursuing high-impact placements before saturation
• Aggressive in pitching and closing placements with media, analysts, and strategic partners
• Strategic thinking: Ability to evaluate opportunities, recommend positioning, and make disciplined decisions
• Comfort with technical/complex messaging: Ability to translate specialized aerospace/defense capabilities into compelling market narratives
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, PR, Marketing, Journalism, or related field
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing relationships with aerospace/defense media, analysts, or industry organizations
• New space sector experience (commercial space, LEO, launch providers, space tech)
• Background in aerospace OEM, defense contractor, or aerospace supplier communications
• CEO/C-suite communications experience
• Experience pitching co-marketing or strategic partnership initiatives to suppliers or vendors