Learning & Development Lead

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.

The organization is looking for a forward-thinking, technologically savvy Learning & Development Lead to design, launch, and scale the company's centralized corporate training function. Initially acting as a high-impact individual contributor, this role will design the foundation for how the company's workforce learns, develops skills, and aligns with critical operational imperatives. This is not a traditional L&D role focused on licensing legacy Learning Management Systems (LMS) or rolling out static corporate modules. Instead, this role will champion a next-generation learning paradigm that leverages AI, LLM-driven knowledge engines, and contextual delivery mechanisms to provide adaptive learning solutions built for a highly technical and operational workforce that is rapidly evolving and scaling.

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
  • Elevating 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

Requirements

• 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
• Ability 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 + bonus + equity + benefits.