Social Media Specialist

AeroVironment, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental & Vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Social Media Specialist to lead day-to-day execution across the company’s social media channels, publishing, reposting, sharing, and engaging with audiences.

You will identify timely opportunities to join conversations and escalate issues to communications leadership as needed. The role requires strong editorial judgement, platform expertise, and the ability to move quickly in a fast-paced external communications environment, with 5+ years in social media or

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, digital media, marketing, journalism or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in social media, digital communications, content development or related communications work.
• Demonstrated experience managing corporate or organizational social media channels, including publishing, engagement, monitoring and analytics.
• Strong editorial judgement and ability to independently determine when to publish, engage, amplify, flag or elevate social media activity.
• Working proficiency with visual content creation tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, CapCut or similar platforms.
• Experience using social media listening and analytic tools.

Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day management of AV’s corporate social media channels, including publishing, reposting, sharing, commenting and audience engagement.
• Exercise independent judgement within established communications guidance to determine when and how AV should engage with relevant content, conversations and breaking developments.
• Monitor social platforms, media coverage, industry conversations and competitor activity for timely engagement opportunities, emerging narratives and potential reputational issues.
• Identify and promptly flag issues, posts, narratives or engagements that may require communications leadership review or response.
• Develop and maintain the social media content calendar in coordination with PR, marketing, executives and business teams.
• Draft platform-specific content that reflects AV’s voice, business priorities and communications objectives.
• Amplify company news, earned media, executive engagements, events, demonstrations and thought leadership across appropriate channels.
• Support real-time and live social coverage at trade shows, demonstrations, media engagements and company events.
• Support executive social media presence, including drafting, amplification and identification of engagement opportunities.
• Track channel performance and use analytics to improve content, timing, engagement and audience growth.
• Repurpose speaking engagements, earned media, company announcements and existing photo/video assets into platform-specific social and digital content, including graphics, short-form video, executive content and campaign extensions.
• Support implementation of new platforms, integrations and communications technologies.
• Advise communications leadership on emerging digital capabilities and opportunities.

Skills

Editorial judgement

Platform expertise

Social media analytics

Audience engagement

Content creation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, digital media, marketing, journalism or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

CapCut

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary AV is seeking a Social Media Specialist to lead day-to-day execution across the company’s social media channels. This role will be empowered to publish, repost, share and engage on behalf of the company; identify timely opportunities to join relevant conversations; and recognize when emerging issues, coverage or online activity should be elevated to communications leadership. The ideal candidate combines strong editorial judgement, sound instincts, platform expertise and the ability to move quickly in a fast-paced external communications environment.

Position Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day management of AV’s corporate social media channels, including publishing, reposting, sharing, commenting and audience engagement.
• Exercise independent judgement within established communications guidance to determine when and how AV should engage with relevant content, conversations and breaking developments.
• Monitor social platforms, media coverage, industry conversations and competitor activity for timely engagement opportunities, emerging narratives and potential reputational issues.
• Identify and promptly flag issues, posts, narratives or engagements that may require communications leadership review or response.
• Develop and maintain the social media content calendar in coordination with PR, marketing, executives and business teams.
• Draft platform-specific content that reflects AV’s voice, business priorities and communications objectives.
• Amplify company news, earned media, executive engagements, events, demonstrations and thought leadership across appropriate channels.
• Support real-time and live social coverage at trade shows, demonstrations, media engagements and company events.
• Support executive social media presence, including drafting, amplification and identification of engagement opportunities.
• Track channel performance and use analytics to improve content, timing, engagement and audience growth.
• Repurpose speaking engagements, earned media, company announcements and existing photo/video assets into platform-specific social and digital content, including graphics, short-form video, executive content and campaign extensions.
• Support implementation of new platforms, integrations and communications technologies.
• Advise communications leadership on emerging digital capabilities and opportunities.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, digital media, marketing, journalism or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in social media, digital communications, content development or related communications work.
• Demonstrated experience managing corporate or organizational social media channels, including publishing, engagement, monitoring and analytics.
• Strong editorial judgement and ability to independently determine when to publish, engage, amplify, flag or elevate social media activity.
• Working proficiency with visual content creation tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, CapCut or similar platforms.
• Experience using social media listening and analytic tools.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience providing real-time social media coverage at events, demonstrations, conferences and media engagements.
• Experience working with professional photo and video libraries or digital asset-management systems.
• Familiarity with paid social media campaigns and audience-growth strategies.
• Familiarity with basic video editing, motion graphics or other social-first-multimedia production.
• Experience supporting communication rollouts, production launches, and high-visibility announcements.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office environment (Constant) Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$74,000 - $113,000 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:

• medical
• dental vision
• 401K with company matching
• a 9/80 work schedule
• a paid holiday shutdown

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV. We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR U.S. Citizenship required

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Careers at AeroVironment