Communications Manager - APAC
Shield AI
Marketing & Communications
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Posted on Sep 13, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company building intelligent autonomous aircraft systems. Our mission is to protect service members and civilians through AI and autonomy. With operations across the US, Europe, the Middle East and Australia, our products - including the V-BAT aircraft and Hivemind AI software - are actively supporting U.S. and allied missions around the world.
As we grow our regional presence, we’re hiring a Communications Manager for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This role will lead external and internal communications across Australia and the broader region, amplifying Shield AI’s voice in one of our fastest-growing markets. Reporting to the global communications team, you’ll shape messaging, manage media relationships, and ensure alignment between regional and global strategies.
If you’re a skilled storyteller with defence, aerospace, or tech experience - and you want to help build a category-defining brand - we’d love to hear from you.
What You'll Do:
- Lead communications strategy across APAC to support growth, partnerships, and brand positioning.
- Build and manage relationships with defence, aerospace, and tech media in the region.
- Coordinate announcements, press releases, and interviews that align with company milestones.
- Own the comms calendar for regional trade shows, industry events, and key partner activations.
- Collaborate with Shield AI’s global comms team to ensure message consistency across markets.
- Adapt complex technology and mission-driven messaging for regional audiences and stakeholders.
- Develop content across press releases, internal comms, social media, and thought leadership.
- Support issues management and brand reputation activity in collaboration with global leadership.
What You'll Bring:
- Strong, recent experience in communications, PR, or journalism within the defence, aerospace, or technology sector.
- Strong writing, editing, and storytelling ability - able to craft compelling content across multiple formats.
- A solid understanding of the APAC media landscape, including key publications and influencers.
- Proven success driving communications strategies for trade shows, government engagement, or major launches.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives, coordinate stakeholders, and deliver to tight deadlines.
- Comfortable navigating complex or regulated environments, ideally with international alignment.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Familiarity with social media channels, media monitoring, and content management tools.
Bonus Points For:
- Experience working in or alongside multinational organisations or government stakeholders.
- Fluency in additional Asian languages (beyond English).
- Background in crisis comms or issues management in high-stakes sectors.
- Established network of media contacts across Asia-Pacific defence, aerospace, or tech.
Why Shield AI?
- Help shape the future of autonomous defence technology and be part of a mission that matters.
- Work in a hybrid environment based out of our Port Melbourne office, with a globally connected team.
- Salary + equity for permanent roles, plus international benefits for team members hired via Employer of Record (EOR).
- Join a values-driven business with a supportive culture and long-term growth opportunities.
Help us redefine what’s possible in autonomous defence — apply today!
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.