Learning & Development Lead

About the Opportunity

The company offers drone delivery as a safe, fast, and sustainable solution for last mile logistics. Consumer appetites for on-demand services are increasing, but current delivery methods are inefficient, costly, and contribute to road accidents and air pollution. The company's fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from businesses to homes on-demand, in minutes. The organization designs, builds, and operates its aircraft, and offers drone delivery services on two continents. The technology is designed to be easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks, offering a scalable drone delivery solution for a broad range of businesses. The organization is part of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and its mission is to create the preferred means of delivery for the planet.

About the Role

The company is looking for a Learning & Development Lead to join the People team. This role seeks someone with a builder mindset who has a deep understanding of how different employees learn and acquire skills and is passionate about creating the environment and systems that promote a learning-oriented culture. This role is hybrid based in Palo Alto, CA or based remotely in the United States.

Key Responsibilities

• Build the blueprint, strategy, and system foundation for the organization's first centralized corporate training function to serve the global workforce
• Evaluate, select, and implement modern, AI-driven learning tools and knowledge systems. Think beyond static, archaic LMS tools; this is an opportunity to build or implement adaptive learning paths and real-time support mechanisms driven by automated content contextualization
• Act as the architect of core learning pillars, utilizing strong foundational learning science to ensure learning pathways drive specific, measurable business goals. Core initial programs will include: Safety, Compliance, and Environmental Health & Safety
• Build upon the organization's existing leadership frameworks that define how managers lead, mentor, and build high-performing teams
• Elevate engineering and operational skill sets through cutting-edge workflows. Partner with AI Champions across the organization to help cascade key AI training & development
• Partner closely with various client groups and executive leadership to align learning objectives with organizational metrics and dynamic regulatory requirements, including:
• Partnering with the Aviation Safety team on core learning modules that support the Safety Management System
• Partnering with the Legal, Compliance and EH&S teams on critical compliance and EH&S training for employees and extended field teams
• Facilitate training sessions for Winglets (virtual and in-person), depending on the content
• Operate initially as an entrepreneurial individual contributor who designs and delivers materials directly. Over time, this role will strategically build out a small, scrappy team to expand impact

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of total experience in instructional design, corporate learning, or people development, with a proven track record of standing up programs in fast-growing technology companies or aviation/robotics/hardware industries
• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, Business Administration, or a related field
• Strong background in instructional design theories and learning psychology. Proven ability to design training modules that balance different learning archetypes (from desk-based software engineers to field-based employees)
• Active experience incorporating AI solutions into dynamic learning workflows
• Able to link learning interventions to core business metrics (e.g., incident rate reduction, engineering speed, leadership retention) rather than vanity completion rates
• A passion for operating as an individual contributor in the early stages, writing content, organizing materials, and building courses, combined with the strategic maturity required to set up a new function within the people function
• Excellent public speaking & presentation skills

Pay

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $220,000—$234,000 USD. The organization's salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. A recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.