Communications Strategist, Government & Product

Nominal; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Unlimited PTO

Free meals

PD stipend

Hardware lab stipend

Company retreat

Parental leave

Fertility & family planning

Wellness stipend

Hardware sensor stipend

401k

Equity terms

On-site workweek

Job summary

Nominal is seeking a Communications Strategist, Government & Product to shape and execute external communications focused on government, defense, and product storytelling. You will translate complex technical developments into compelling narratives, build meaningful media relationships, and partner with product, engineering, and government-facing teams to craft launches, milestones, and partnerships.

You will develop messaging frameworks, press materials, and executive talking points, while

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in communications, public relations, media relations, or a related field.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies, including media relations and earned media programs.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with experience developing press releases, messaging frameworks, executive talking points, media pitches, and briefing materials.
• The ability to understand complex technical subjects and translate them into clear, compelling narratives for different audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple communications priorities and projects in a fast-moving environment.
• Experience working directly with executives, senior stakeholders, and subject-matter experts.
• Strong judgment and attention to detail, particularly when communicating about sensitive information, government stakeholders, and complex customer or partner relationships.
• The ability to build relationships with reporters and understand what makes a story newsworthy.

Responsibilities

• Drive government and defense communications. Develop communications strategies that establish Nominal's credibility across the defense, national security, and government technology ecosystems.
• Own product communications. Partner with Product and Engineering to develop compelling narratives around product launches, new capabilities, technical milestones, and major company developments.
• Build media relationships. Develop and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and influential voices covering defense, national security, aerospace, technology, enterprise software, and AI.
• Develop communications materials. Create messaging frameworks, press releases, media pitches, briefing documents, talking points, and other materials supporting major announcements and company initiatives.
• Support government-facing announcements. Work with internal stakeholders to develop communications around government contracts, programs, awards, and partnerships, ensuring messaging is accurate, appropriately scoped, and aligned with relevant communications requirements.
• Translate technical developments. Work directly with engineers, product leaders, and subject-matter experts to understand what we're building and identify the stories that matter to our audiences.
• Prepare company spokespeople. Develop executive messaging, talking points, interview briefs, and preparation materials for media opportunities, conferences, and other external engagements.
• Execute earned media programs. Identify news opportunities, develop targeted media strategies, coordinate briefings and interviews, and manage the communications process from initial pitch through publication.
• Coordinate external partners. Work with PR agencies and other external partners to support communications programs, providing direction and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution.
• Support broader company communications. Partner with the marketing team on major company moments, including funding announcements, acquisitions, customer stories, industry events, and other strategic initiatives.
• Monitor the landscape. Stay close to developments across defense technology, aerospace, AI, and the broader hardware ecosystem. Identify relevant conversations and opportunities for Nominal to contribute its perspective.

Skills

5+ years communications experience

Communications strategy development

Press releases

Messaging frameworks

Executive talking points

Media pitches

Briefing materials

Technical storytelling

Project management

Executive collaboration

Judgment & detail

Media relations

Defense sector experience

Reporter relationships

Govt contracts experience

Product launch comms

Govt comm requirements

Exec media prep

PR agency management

Cross-domain interest

Tools

None

Job description

About Nominal

Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that’s purpose-built for them.

About Nominal

Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that’s purpose-built for them.
Nominal is building the Hardware Intelligence Platform that gives engineers increased visibility into complex physical systems, helps them make better decisions, and ultimately gets their products into the real world faster. It brings together the systems, data, intelligence, and applications hardware engineering requires to meet the AI moment. Hardware engineering teams use Nominal to simulate, test, manufacture, and operate the physical systems that keep the world moving, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation energy systems and robotics.
Our customers span aerospace, defense, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and robotics. They include Anduril, Shield AI, Wisk Aero, Pratt Miller Motorsports, Antares, and Shinkei Systems, amongst others, alongside programs within the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Tesla, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.
Some of the world’s leading technology investors, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and Insight Partners, are backing Nominal’s ambition to change how machines are built and operated.
We're looking for a Communications Strategist, Government & Product to help shape and execute Nominal's external communications strategy focused on government, defense, and product communications. Nominal operates at the intersection of software, AI, and some of the world's most complex engineering challenges. Our customers include leading commercial hardware companies and government organizations working on critical national security and defense programs. Communicating what we're building, who we're building it with, and why it matters requires strong storytelling instincts, the ability to build on or develop meaningful media relationships, and a sophisticated understanding of the audiences involved.
You'll develop and execute communications programs around major product announcements, government programs, customer milestones, partnerships, and other company developments. Working closely with our founders, product and engineering teams, government-facing teams, and broader marketing organization, you'll help translate complex technical developments into compelling narratives and bring them to the right audiences. We're looking for a communications professional who can operate strategically and execute independently: someone who understands how to earn media attention, build meaningful relationships with reporters and industry stakeholders, and communicate important developments with clarity, precision, and good judgment.

About the role

• Drive government and defense communications. Develop communications strategies that establish Nominal's credibility across the defense, national security, and government technology ecosystems. Identify opportunities to communicate the company's work, programs, partnerships, and impact.
• Own product communications. Partner with Product and Engineering to develop compelling narratives around product launches, new capabilities, technical milestones, and major company developments. Translate complex technical concepts into clear, differentiated stories.
• Build media relationships. Develop and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and influential voices covering defense, national security, aerospace, technology, enterprise software, and AI. Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for meaningful coverage.
• Develop communications materials. Create messaging frameworks, press releases, media pitches, briefing documents, talking points, and other materials supporting major announcements and company initiatives.
• Support government-facing announcements. Work with internal stakeholders to develop communications around government contracts, programs, awards, and partnerships, ensuring messaging is accurate, appropriately scoped, and aligned with relevant communications requirements.
• Translate technical developments. Work directly with engineers, product leaders, and subject-matter experts to understand what we're building and identify the stories that matter to our audiences.
• Prepare company spokespeople. Develop executive messaging, talking points, interview briefs, and preparation materials for media opportunities, conferences, and other external engagements.
• Execute earned media programs. Identify news opportunities, develop targeted media strategies, coordinate briefings and interviews, and manage the communications process from initial pitch through publication.
• Coordinate external partners. Work with PR agencies and other external partners to support communications programs, providing direction and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution.
• Support broader company communications. Partner with the marketing team on major company moments, including funding announcements, acquisitions, customer stories, industry events, and other strategic initiatives.
• Monitor the landscape. Stay close to developments across defense technology, aerospace, AI, and the broader hardware ecosystem. Identify relevant conversations and opportunities for Nominal to contribute its perspective.

We're looking for someone with

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in communications, public relations, media relations, or a related field.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies, including media relations and earned media programs.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with experience developing press releases, messaging frameworks, executive talking points, media pitches, and briefing materials.
• The ability to understand complex technical subjects and translate them into clear, compelling narratives for different audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple communications priorities and projects in a fast-moving environment.
• Experience working directly with executives, senior stakeholders, and subject-matter experts.
• Strong judgment and attention to detail, particularly when communicating about sensitive information, government stakeholders, and complex customer or partner relationships.
• The ability to build relationships with reporters and understand what makes a story newsworthy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in or alongside defense, aerospace, government technology, national security, or enterprise technology organizations.
• Established relationships with reporters and media outlets covering defense, government, aerospace, technology, or enterprise software.
• Experience supporting communications around government contracts, defense programs, military partnerships, or national security initiatives.
• Experience developing communications strategies for technical product launches and major company announcements.
• Familiarity with government communications requirements, including the sensitivities around communicating about defense programs, customers, and partnerships.
• Experience preparing executives and technical spokespeople for media interviews and external engagements.
• Experience managing PR agencies and other external communications partners.
• Curiosity about the intersection of software, AI, hardware engineering, and national security.

Benefits/Perks

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• Professional Development Stipend
• In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
• Annual company retreat
• 12 weeks parental leave
• Fertility and family planning ($15,000 lifetime)
• Wellness stipend ($100/month)
• $500/year hardware sensor stipend
• 401(k)
• Employee-friendly equity terms
• In-office 5 days per week

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

ITAR Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $125,000 – $155,000 per year.