Instructional Designer & Curriculum Developer
Designs, develops, and maintains technical training curricula for Performance Drone Works' unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), payloads, and software — creating lesson plans, instructor/student guides, assessments, and eLearning content. Requires instructional design experience, strong technical writing, and U.S. Secret clearance eligibility.
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 3+ years
- Category
- Technical writing
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Education, Technical Communication, Adult Learning, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 3–5 years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or technical training for complex technical products (UAS, aerospace, defense, robotics, software, or similar)
- Experience developing technical training including lesson plans, instructor and student guides, presentations, practical exercises, assessments, and eLearning using adult learning principles
- Strong technical writing and communication skills; ability to translate complex engineering and maintenance information into clear, learner-focused content
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and content management/version control tools (SharePoint, GitLab, LMS)
- Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance or higher
Nice to have
- Experience developing technical training for UAS, aerospace, defense, aviation, robotics, or other complex technical products
- Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD), military, public safety, or defense contractor programs
- Experience with LMS and eLearning authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline, Rise 360, Adobe Captivate, or Camtasia
- Experience creating multimedia learning content (instructional videos, graphics, diagrams, animations, interactive assets)
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or familiarity with unmanned aircraft operations and aviation safety
Full description
Now, we’re entering a new phase of growth and are looking for an Instruction Designer & Curriculum Developer. This role will turn complex unmanned systems and rapidly evolving technology into training that enables operators and customers to use PDW products safely, confidently, and effectively. As PDW introduces new products and capabilities, this role will help ensure our training scales with them and that what we build can be successfully deployed, operated, and supported in the field.
What You’ll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain technical training curricula for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), payloads, software, and related technologies.
- Create comprehensive training materials, including lesson plans, instructor and student guides, presentations, practical exercises, assessments, job aids, and eLearning content.
- Collaborate with engineers, technical writers, trainers, and subject-matter experts to translate complex technical information into clear, effective learning experiences.
- Ensure training materials align with technical publications, engineering changes, product updates, safety requirements, and approved operating and maintenance procedures.
- Evaluate and continuously improve curriculum through learner feedback, training observations, assessments, and support for new product releases and standardized training delivery.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Education, Technical Communication, Adult Learning, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 3–5 years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or technical training for complex technical products such as UAS, aerospace, defense, robotics, software, or similar industries.
- Experience developing technical documents, technical training, including lesson plans, instructor and student guides, presentations, practical exercises, assessments, and eLearning content using adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies.
- Strong technical writing and communication skills with the ability to translate complex engineering and maintenance information into clear, learner-focused content while collaborating with engineers and subject-matter experts.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and content management/version control tools (SharePoint, GitLab, LMS) and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance or higher, as required.
Preferred
- Experience developing technical training for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), aerospace, defense, aviation, robotics, or other complex technical products.
- Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD), military, public safety, or defense contractor programs.