External Communications Specialist

Venus Aerospace•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion with its proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets, delivering historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. The company is seeking an External Communications Specialist to help tell its story. This is a hands-on role focused on earned and owned communications, with writing as a central component. The ideal candidate is a strong writer and communicator, eager to learn about propulsion and aerospace. The role involves collaborating with the Communications team and other Venus employees to develop stories about the company's technology, people, and progress. This may include understanding test campaigns, researching reporters, drafting media pitches, developing social content, and preparing for major announcements. As experience grows, the role offers opportunities for increased ownership in media relations, owned content, and external storytelling. The position is based on-site in Houston to facilitate close proximity to the work and firsthand learning opportunities.

Requirements

Writing is the most important skill for this role. We want someone who likes to write and cares about getting the language right.
Ability to take complicated information, understand what matters and make it accessible without losing the substance.
Approximately 3–5 years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism, content or a related field.
Strong writing and editing skills across different formats and audiences.
Good editorial judgment and an instinct for what makes something interesting, relevant or newsworthy.
An interest in media relations and a willingness to pitch reporters.
Curiosity and an eagerness to learn technical subject matter.
Comfort asking questions and working with engineers, executives and other subject-matter experts.
Good judgment around accuracy, messaging and when to ask for guidance.
Strong organization and follow-through across multiple projects and deadlines.
An interest in both earned media and owned storytelling.
The ability to work on-site in Houston.
Must be able to meet ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State).

Nice To Haves

Pitching reporters or supporting an earned-media program.
Journalism or newsroom experience.
Communicating aerospace, defense, engineering, science or other technical subject matter.
Writing across both earned and owned channels.
Basic photography, video or digital-content skills.
Working in a growth-stage environment where teams, processes and ways of working are still being built.

Responsibilities

Write and edit media pitches, announcements, web copy, talking points, social content and other external communications.
Support day-to-day media relations, including reporter research, media lists, pitching, inbound requests, follow-up and monitoring.
Work with the Communications team and people across Venus to identify the stories behind our technology, programs, people, tests and milestones.
Help develop and execute owned storytelling around those stories, from individual posts and web content to broader editorial themes and recurring content.
Interview engineers, technical leaders, executives and other subject-matter experts and turn complex work into clear, accurate, compelling storytelling.
Help shape the editorial cadence across Venus-owned channels and connect day-to-day content to broader communications priorities.
Support communications around testing, flight, partnerships, launches, events and other major Venus moments.
Research reporters, outlets and media opportunities and help develop thoughtful, targeted pitches tied to the stories Venus has to tell.
Build familiarity with relevant reporters and take on increasing ownership of media relationships over time.
Track media coverage and relevant industry conversations and surface useful opportunities or insights to the team.
Maintain media materials, messaging resources and other communications tools that support the function.
Capture basic photo and video when useful for day-to-day storytelling and work with the broader team on larger creative needs.