Marketing Manager (Public Sector)

Aikido Security; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-tier tech pay and equity

Flexible hours

Open and informal atmosphere

High-trust culture

Job summary

Aikido Security is seeking a Marketing Manager (Public Sector) to own ASD marketing and shape messaging for federal and defense buyers. You will drive campaigns, events, and cross-functional execution to bring programs from concept to launch.

Join a fast-growing startup with a developer-first security mindset, collaborating with content, web, PR, events, and demand gen to grow this vertical while keeping government customers at the center.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years of experience marketing to government, defense, or public sector audiences.
• Strong cross-functional Marketing skills across content, events, digital, web, and campaigns.
• Deep understanding of government/defense messaging and buyer nuance.
• Ability to shape messaging and push back when generic approaches won’t work.
• Ability to operate independently and move work forward across teams.
• Organized, proactive, and comfortable in a fast-paced startup.

Responsibilities

• Own the marketing strategy and execution for ASD, leveraging the company engine for a government/defense vertical.
• Partner with content, web, PR, events, and demand gen teams to launch ASD programs.
• Develop messaging that resonates with federal/government buyers, the internal voice for this audience.
• Support field marketing around industry events, dinners, and VIP programs.
• Drive government-focused content, campaigns, and digital presence.
• Ensure ASD priorities are represented in broader company marketing plans.

Skills

Gov/defense marketing

Cross-functional collaboration

Messaging & positioning

Campaign execution

Independent contributor

Startup mindset

Developer tooling / cybersecurity (BON

Job description

We’re making security suck less for developers.

Security tools haven’t kept up with how software is built today. They interrupt teams, slow releases, and turn security into a bottleneck instead of a capability. We built Aikido to change that. Aikido builds developer-first security products that reduce real risk without getting in the way of shipping software. We focus on what actually matters and automate the rest.

We’re taking on legacy security tools teams have been stuck with, and we’re winning. If you want to help us take market share and build products developers actually enjoy using, you’re in the right place.

Founded in 2022 by third-time founders, Aikido has $85M in the bank, a long runway ahead, and unicorn status. We’re building toward self-securing software. Join an all-star team. Take real ownership. Push boundaries. Build things that matter.

As our Marketing Manager (Public Sector), you’ll own and drive marketing for Aikido Strategics and Defense (ASD), shaping how we show up to government and defense buyers, building messaging that speaks their language, and making sure the right programs actually get off the ground. You’ll have full ownership to drive messaging, campaigns, events, and cross‑functional execution for this fast-growing vertical.

Responsibilities

• Own the marketing strategy and execution for ASD, leveraging Aikido’s broader marketing engine to support a distinct government and defense vertical
• Partner closely with content, web, PR, events, and demand gen teams to get ASD programs launched
• Develop messaging and positioning that resonates with federal/government buyers, acting as the internal voice of the government/defense customer
• Support field marketing efforts around industry events, private dinners, and VIP programs
• Drive government‑focused content, campaigns, and digital presence
• Ensure ASD priorities are represented in broader company marketing plans

• 3-7 years of experience marketing to government, defense, or public sector audiences
• Broad, cross‑functional marketing background and ability to work across a variety of channels including content, events, digital, web, and campaign execution
• Strong understanding of government/defense messaging and buyer nuance
• Confidence to shape messaging and push back when generic commercial approaches won’t work
• Ability to operate independently and move work forward across teams
• Organized, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced startup environment
• Bonus points if you have experience in developer tooling, DevOps, or cybersecurity

What you can expect

• Short decision lines. Big ownership. Shape the projects that matter and ship fast.
• Grow as fast as we do. Take on more, own more, and carve out your own path.
• Top‑tier tech pay and equity.
• High trust, strong values, zero corporate BS.
• Flexibility in working hours.
• A company that sticks to its values in an open and informal atmosphere.

We hire for talent, drive, and potential. Everything else is noise.