Events Specialist

Umbra•Arlington, VA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Umbra is seeking an Event & Trade Show Specialist to lead the planning and execution of our presence at industry events, trade shows, and conferences across the aerospace and defense sectors. In this role, you will be responsible for showcasing Umbra’s brand and technology to the world – ensuring that every event we participate in is executed flawlessly and reflects our leadership in space tech innovation. This is a highly hands-on role for a detail-oriented, proactive event operator who excels at bringing stories to life through impactful event experiences and can independently drive multiple events at once while building strong relationships with venues, exhibit partners, and event staff. Reporting to the Director of Marketing, this role will manage event logistics, vendor coordination, budgets, and on-site execution while working closely with cross-functional teams including communications, design, business development, and engineering to maximize impact. This position is based on-site in either our Arlington, VA office or Reston, VA office (coming soon).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Event Management or a related field; or equivalent work experience.
5+ years of hands-on experience coordinating and managing professional events or trade shows, preferably in the technology, aerospace, or defense industry.
Exceptional project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple events, vendors, and timelines without missing a detail.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to negotiate with vendors and confidently represent the company in high-visibility settings.
Creativity and marketing savvy to design memorable event experiences and effectively promote Umbra’s brand and mission.
Hands-on experience creating or editing event marketing assets, with proficiency in design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and/or Figma.
Willingness to travel regularly (up to 20-30%) domestically and internationally to support company events.

Nice To Haves

Experience coordinating events or conferences in the government, aerospace, defense, or intelligence sector.
Comfortable working under pressure and solving problems on the fly during live events.
Familiarity with event marketing and lead capture platforms (e.g., Hubspot, Cvent, Splash, Salesforce, or similar tools).
Existing network of event vendors, exhibit partners, or industry conference organizers.
Experience supporting executive-level engagements, customer meetings, or VIP events in high-visibility environments.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end logistics and strategy for Umbra’s participation in conferences, trade shows, and special events – from initial planning and promotion, through on-site execution, to post-event follow-up and evaluation.
Develop event plans, timelines, run-of-show schedules, and checklists to ensure every component (booth design, demos, collateral, speaker sessions, travel, and staffing) are meticulously organized well in advance and aligned with Umbra’s goals.
Manage event budgets and vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and coordinating with venues, exhibit builders, and suppliers to deliver high-quality event experiences within budget.
Work with Umbra’s design and product teams to create engaging displays and demonstrations that highlight our SAR imagery capabilities and aerospace product offerings to event attendees.
Serve as the on-site lead for events, overseeing booth setup, coordinating staff and schedules, engaging with attendees, and handling any real-time issues or adjustments to keep events running smoothly.
Collaborate with the team to identify speaking opportunities, sponsorships, and key industry events that align with Umbra’s market strategy.
Track and analyze event performance metrics (e.g., leads collected, audience engagement, ROI) and prepare post-event reports with insights and recommendations to inform future event strategy.