--- title: 'Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications at BlackSky' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-marketing-corporate-communications-blacksky-herndon-va-or-seattle-dg0st4d6qs52' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-03' --- # Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications at BlackSky - **Company:** BlackSky - **Location:** Herndon VA OR Seattle, WA - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-10-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/blacksky/jobs/8892567002?gh_jid=8892567002 ## Job description Corporate Communications and Marketing Director About Us: BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun. BlackSky is seeking a strategic communications and marketing leader to define and execute our corporate brand, reputation and market-engagement strategy. Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, the Director will lead a high-performing team that advances our position with key industry stakeholders and manages the company's reputation. This leader will balance engaging storytelling with brand discipline to elevate BlackSky’s narrative and maintain a consistent presence. The role requires a player/coach mindset, and you will contribute directly to shaping BlackSky’s reputation in the news and other avenues of earned media. This hybrid position is based in Herndon, Virginia, or Seattle, Washington, and is expected to travel occasionally to support BlackSky engagements globally. This position is based either in Herndon, Virginia or Seattle, WA and will be in the office on a hybrid basis of at least two days per week. Responsibilities: - Develop and own the integrated corporate communications and marketing strategy aligned with growth, capture and investor priorities. - Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments. - Serve as trusted advisor to the C-suite on messaging, reputation and stakeholder engagement. - Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership. - Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement. - Support investor, analyst and industry association communications as applicable. - Direct crisis communications planning and response. - Manage external agency resources, including a PR-focused agency, while coordinating reviews, executive stakeholder meetings and media. - Collaborate with leadership and internal subject matter experts to train/prepare spokespersons and create supporting campaign assets, not limited to briefing documents, outward-facing briefing materials and news announcements, imagery, and other creative visual assets. - Other duties as assigned. Required Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Business, or related field - A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in corporate communications and/or B2B marketing. - Exceptional writing, editing and executive presence. - Proven crisis communications experience and sound judgment under pressure. - A quick and enthusiastic learner who is resourceful and committed to finding solutions. - A passion for the space industry and a natural grasp for technology and cultural megatrends shaping our world. - Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the capacity to explain and translate complex technology concepts into simple and intuitive narrative. - Exceptional attention to detail, even when managing multiple deadlines. - Proven ability to work with and influence cross-functional teams without formal authority. - Candidates must be eligible to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications: - Previous defense or aerospace technology experience, both internationally and within the U.S. - Familiarity with the defense acquisition lifecycle and customer decision-making. - Experience with account-based marketing, marketing automation, and CRM platforms. - Familiar with (U.S.) media law, AP Style and journalistic principles for newsgathering and publication. Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits eligible employees includes: - Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance - BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses! - 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more - 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match - Flexible Spending Accounts - Employee Stock Purchase Program - Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs - Employer matching donations - Professional development - Mac or PC? Your choice! - Awesome swag The anticipated salary range for candidates in Herndon, VA and Seattle, WA is $175,000 - $200,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Herndon, VA and Seattle, WA. BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a 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. EEO/Pay Transparency Statements: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf #LI-hybrid ## About BlackSky ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: BlackSky is a real-time, space-based intelligence company that delivers on-demand, high-frequency satellite imagery, analytics, and monitoring of critical global locations, assets, and events. - **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: BKSY) - **Headquarters**: Herndon, Virginia, USA (with a satellite manufacturing facility in Tukwila, Washington) - **Founded**: 2013 (as BlackSky Global, a spin-off from Spaceflight Industries) - **Founders**: Brian E. Bjelde, Nick Merski, and Jordan Tate ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Earth Observation / Space-based Intelligence / Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) - **Target customers**: B2B, primarily serving government defense and intelligence agencies (US and international), along with commercial enterprises in sectors like maritime, energy, and infrastructure. - **Mission or purpose statement**: To dramatically accelerate Earth observation from space for real-time monitoring. BlackSky enables customers to see, understand, and anticipate change for a decisive strategic advantage. ## Products & Services - **BlackSky Spectra®**: The company’s core software platform. It is a purpose-built, space-based intelligence platform for dynamic monitoring. It integrates tasking, collection, and AI-driven analytics to deliver actionable insights (e.g., object detection, change monitoring) in under 90 minutes on average. *Type*: SaaS / Analytics Platform. - **Satellite Constellation (Gen-2 & Gen-3)**: BlackSky owns and operates a proprietary fleet of high-resolution satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). The Gen-3 constellation, launched in 2025, is designed to be the world’s largest very high-resolution constellation by end of 2026. This provides high-revisit, low-latency tasking and data collection. *Type*: Hardware (Spacecraft) / Data Service. - **BlackSky Assured**: A subscription-based service offering dedicated, prioritized access to satellite tasking and data for persistent monitoring of specific areas of interest. *Type*: Service / Subscription. - **BlackSky On-Demand**: A flexible, worldwide tasking service for ad-hoc intelligence needs. *Type*: Service. - **Third-party Data Integration**: Through Spectra, users can access and analyze data from third-party satellite partners, creating a “virtual constellation.” *Type*: Platform Feature. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Market cap is approximately $350–$400 million (as of mid-2026, subject to market fluctuations). *Source*: Public market data. - **Key Metric**: As a public company, annual revenue is reported. For 2025, BlackSky reported revenue of approximately $107 million (a year-over-year increase of 35%). *Source*: BlackSky 2025 Annual Report (SEC 10-K). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Key institutional investors include entities like Neuberger Berman and AWM Investment Company. Strategic partners include government clients (e.g., U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, U.S. Space Force, international defense ministries) and commercial platform partners. - **Growth Signals**: - **Gen-3 Constellation Deployment**: Rapidly scaling its next-generation satellite fleet, with four Gen-3 satellites already operational. - **International Expansion**: Signed a new eight-figure international contract in March 2026 for “accelerated delivery of Gen-3 sovereign space-based intelligence solution.” - **Revenue Growth**: 35% revenue growth in 2025, demonstrating strong market demand. - **New Contract Wins**: Multiple seven-figure contracts announced in early 2026 for “Assured” services with international defense customers. ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertically Integrated Model**: BlackSky designs, manufactures, and operates its own satellites (in Tukwila, WA) and owns its software platform (Spectra). This end-to-end control allows for rapid iteration, cost optimization, and a tightly integrated hardware-software system. - **Speed & Low Latency**: The company is built on a culture of speed. Its platform delivers imagery and analytics in under 90 minutes on average, a key differentiator for time-sensitive defense and intelligence missions. - **AI-Powered Analytics**: BlackSky Spectra incorporates automated detection and classification models for vessels, aircraft, and vehicles, turning raw imagery into actionable intelligence at scale, freeing human analysts for higher-level tasks. - **First-of-its-Kind Platform**: BlackSky is recognized as the only purpose-built, real-time space-based intelligence platform that seamlessly combines tasking, collection, and analytics. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling the Gen-3 Constellation**: The primary strategic focus is on deploying the Gen-3 satellite fleet to achieve the world’s largest very high-resolution constellation, dramatically increasing capacity, revisit rates, and image quality. - **Deepening Government & Defense Relationships**: Targeting larger, multi-year contracts with both U.S. and allied international defense and intelligence agencies, particularly for the “Assured” subscription model which provides predictable recurring revenue. - **Expanding Commercial Vertical Markets**: Growing adoption in commercial sectors (e.g., supply chain monitoring, infrastructure security, insurance) by demonstrating the value of time-sensitive, AI-driven intelligence. - **AI & Automation Leadership**: Continuing to invest heavily in AI and machine learning capabilities within Spectra to automate more of the intelligence workflow and maintain a technological edge. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-Driven Impact**: Employees directly contribute to global security and situational awareness. The company states its work provides “global impact” by supporting real-world operations for national security and disaster response. - **Rapid Growth & Professional Development**: As a fast-growing, public company scaling its satellite constellation, BlackSky offers significant opportunities for advancement and responsibility, particularly in engineering, operations, and data science. - **Culture of Speed & Innovation**: The company emphasizes a lean, innovative culture where employees work alongside “bright and passionate people” on cutting-edge space technology challenges. The culture is described as one of tremendous professional growth. - **Work-Life Balance**: Employee testimonials on the careers page specifically highlight “healthy work-life balance” as a key reason they enjoy working at BlackSky. - **Workplace Policy**: The company is headquartered in Herndon, VA, with its satellite manufacturing facility in Tukwila, WA. Many roles (especially engineering) appear to be hybrid or on-site given the nature of the hardware and operations work. The careers page lists roles like Staff Engineer, Constellation Systems; Manager, People & Culture; and UX Designer, suggesting a mix of technical and corporate functions. *Source*: [BlackSky Careers Page](https://blacksky.com/company/careers/). ## Sources 1. [BlackSky Official Website](https://blacksky.com/) 2. [BlackSky Company Page](https://blacksky.com/company/) 3. [BlackSky Technology Page](https://blacksky.com/technology/) 4. [BlackSky Investor Relations](https://ir.blacksky.com/overview/default.aspx) 5. [BlackSky Careers Page](https://blacksky.com/company/careers/) ## Other roles at BlackSky - [Senior Accounting Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-accounting-manager-blacksky-herndon-n1kkshr7cqsa) — Herndon, VA - [Mechanical Design Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-design-manager-blacksky-tukwila-s7x6b1qx6mrr) — Tukwila, WA - [Staff Avionics Engineer (C&DH)](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-avionics-engineer-c-dh-blacksky-tukwila-zkfqcm10950b) — Tukwila, WA - [Principal Systems Engineer - Space Vehicle](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-systems-engineer-space-vehicle-blacksky-tukwila-c8s6b56pjvrf) — Tukwila, WA - [Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-blacksky-tukwila-9tp1x20gewan) — Tukwila, WA - [Senior Engineer - Embedded/Flight Software](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineer-embedded-flight-software-blacksky-seattle-8y254hxzffj9) — Seattle, WA - [Senior Software Engineer, Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-infrastructure-blacksky-tukwila-4p6dw5aqajd9) — Tukwila, WA - [Senior Software Engineer, Design in Test (SDET)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet-blacksky-tukwila-3zgqa93v0p97) — Tukwila, WA - [Staff HDL Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-hdl-hardware-engineer-blacksky-tukwila-0fbka01kvsgp) — Tukwila, WA - [Staff Engineer, Flight Software/Embedded Software](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineer-flight-software-embedded-software-blacksky-seattle-ccs1x8y8h4aa) — Seattle, WA