External Communications Specialist

Who We Are:
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.  

About the role:
Venus Aerospace has built the world’s first high-thrust rotating detonation rocket engine and is developing propulsion technology that could change what is possible across defense and space. 

We are looking for an External Communications Specialist to help tell that story. 

This is a hands-on role across earned and owned communications, with writing at the center of the job. We are looking for someone who is already a strong writer and communicator, but who is also eager to learn. You do not need to come in knowing everything about propulsion, aerospace or defense. You do need to be curious, ask good questions and want to understand the work well enough to communicate it clearly and credibly. 

You will work with the Communications team and people across Venus to develop stories around our technology, people and progress. That could mean sitting down with an engineer to understand a test campaign, researching reporters for an upcoming milestone, drafting a media pitch, developing social content or helping prepare for a major announcement. 

As you build experience at Venus, you will have the opportunity to take on more ownership across media relations, owned content and external storytelling. We want someone who is excited to contribute, bring ideas and help us continue building the Communications function as Venus grows. 

This role is based on-site in Houston because being close to the work matters. Some of the best learning and the best stories will come from spending time with the people building and testing our technology and seeing the work firsthand. 

What You’ll Get To Do

• 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. 

What We’re Looking For

Writing is the most important skill for this role.  We want someone who likes to write and cares about getting the language right. You should be able 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. 

What Makes You A Good Fit

How you work matters just as much as what you have done before. 

• You are curious, eager to learn and willing to ask questions until you really understand the work. 
• You are a strong teammate who is low ego, dependable and willing to jump in where needed. 
• You are a creative problem solver who brings ideas and is comfortable figuring things out when there is not already a playbook. 
• You take feedback well, care about getting better and are excited to grow into more responsibility over time. 
• You can adapt when priorities shift without losing track of the details. 
• You take the work seriously, but bring a sense of humor and enjoy working with other people. 
• You are excited by the opportunity to help build something and have a hand in shaping how the Communications function grows. 

Helpful Experience

You do not need to check every one of these boxes, but experience in any of the following would be useful: 

• 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. 

How The Role Can Grow

This role will start broad across writing, media relations and owned content. As you learn Venus and build experience, there will be room to take on deeper ownership of earned media, reporter relationships, editorial storytelling and other parts of our external communications work. 

The goal is for the role to grow with the person in it and with the needs of Venus, with increasing responsibility as experience and judgment develop. 

Location: On-site in Houston, TX   Benefits: Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.
ITAR Requirements This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you 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). You can learn more about ITAR here.   Venus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please email careerassistance@venusaero.com or call (281) 203-0027.This email and phone number were created exclusively to assist job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Messages or any other purposes, such as following up on an application, third party staffing agencies, website technical issues, or any other issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Messages will be returned within five business days.   For additional information about our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy, please visit our EEOP page.