Curriculum / Instructional Designer

Curriculum/Instructional Designer

Clearance Level: Must be able to obtain an Active Secret Clearance. Must be a US Citizen

At Aquila Technology, you will see our team's passion every day, whether we are building a robust, policy-compliant IT system or stress-testing a system to identify gaps and security vulnerabilities. To own the advantage, we ensure our team owns results and gets the work done right the first time by deploying smart, purposeful solutions that work. Aquila is the right people with the right skills driving the right outcomes. We call this the Aquila Advantage.

About the Role:

Aquila Technology is seeking aCurriculum/Instructional Designer to join our team in supporting one of the country's premier defense research organizations. The team is seeking a Training Strategist for Digital Engineering (DE) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) adoption efforts. This role will develop and execute scalable, user-centered training strategies that drive adoption and effective use of PLM and Digital Engineering methodologies and tools. This role sits at the intersection of technology, engineering processes, and human proficiency-enabling teams to work more efficiently, collaboratively, and digitally. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of PLM/DE tool instructional design, and change management. This role will partner closely with team members and mission staff to ensure that training not only meets skill development needs but also accelerates the organizations digital transformation goals.


There are a few requirements for the position:

• Must be a U.S Citizen- Authorized to Work in the US - Must be able to obtain an Active Secret Clearance (Green Cards / Visas DO NOT qualify)
• Willingness to undergo a comprehensive background investigation and maintain a personal security clearance. (Aquila would sponsor you for the security clearance.)
• Must be within 100 miles from Lexington, Massachusetts.

What You Will Bring:

• Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree
• 10 years - Assist with drafting training recommendations and materials as well as delivering training programs
• 10 years - Delivering training content to stakeholders/users
• 10 years - Developing user interfaces to communicate technical content
• 10 years - Evaluation of existing training programs and recommending enhancements
• 10 years - Experience assessing training effectiveness
• 10 years - Experience with training tools (such as Articulate, Camtasia, SharePoint, etc)
• 5 years - Familiarity w/R&D/STEM content
• 10 years - Maintains training documents, training data and training environments
• 10 years - Visual Design (Technical Content)
• 3 years - Working within an Agile development framework
• 10 years - Work with stakeholders to create training strategy and validate training content
• 10 years - Adobe software (Acrobat, InDesign)
• 10 years - MS Suite (Excel, ppt)
• 5 years - Experience with Learning Management Systems
• 10 years - Writing/Editing
• 10 years - Content Writing

Soft Skills

• Strong Verbal and Written Communication
• Time Management

Nice to Have

• Data/Reporting
• Data Analysis
• Engineering
• Experience in Digital Engineering and DE environments
• Program/Project Management OR Analysis
• Change Management
• Knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management tools (Aras, Siemens Teamcenter, Windchill, etc)

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with leadership to design and implement a comprehensive Digital Engineering training strategy aligned with transformation goals and user needs across all levels of the organization.
• Conduct learning needs assessments and user research to identify skill gaps, pain points, and opportunities for targeted training.
• Develop and deliver role-based training programs (e.g., for engineers, specialists, and leadership) through blended learning approaches-eLearning, hands-on workshops, live demos, AI assistants, and knowledge bases.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs), functional leads and training team to translate technical content into accessible and engaging learning experiences.
• Assist training team with designing, developing, and overseeing the delivery of training programs (online, in-person, blended)
• Work with data scientists to track training effectiveness and adoption metrics, using data to continuously improve training content, delivery methods, and communication strategies.
• Maintain alignment with DE roadmaps, ensuring training evolves alongside tools and processes
• Enable change management and user readiness, supporting onboarding, system rollouts, process changes, and digital capability growth across programs.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Communication, Instructional Design, Education (Curriculum Development), Business Management with Marketing Emphasis
• Proven experience designing and delivering technical training in complex, fast-paced prototyping environments
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, engaging training.
• Experience with training tools such as Articulate, Camtasia, SharePoint, Learning Management Systems (LMS), or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with Agile development processes and engineering lifecycle workflows
  

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in Engineering, Instructional Design, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Knowledge of PLM tools (e.g., Aras Innovator, Siemens Teamcenter, Windchill) and digital engineering practices (e.g., model-based systems engineering, digital thread, data integration).
• 5+ years of experience in PLM systems, digital engineering environments, or technical training strategy; two years of experience in training
• Experience with data analytics or reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to assess training impact and system adoption
• Knowledge of aerospace, defense, R&D, or other highly regulated engineering environments.
• Experience leading change management or user adoption initiatives.

Benefits and Perks:

Aquila team members experience the opportunity to be part of a fast-paced, customer-focused, and technically innovative work environment. Aquila strives to deliver the best of the best in technical services to our customers. Candidates that possess a love for technical challenges, a desire to constantly learn, and the desire to establish themselves as critical players within a team will enjoy calling Aquila Technology home.

Our Perks Include:

• PTO - 15 days (vacation/sick) 10 paid holidays - 6 standard (New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) - 4 floating holidays prorated based on your day of hire
• 1.5 paid days, or 12 hours, for approved volunteer work
• 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment
• Tuition & Training Reimbursement - 5K annually for pre-approved, job-related tuition, certification, or professional conferences
• 401K with Fidelity 100% immediate vesting; Plan eligibility begins 90 days following the date of hire. Aquila matches 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6%.
• Cell Phone & Internet Reimbursed up to $150 monthly to cover cell phone, data, and home internet expenses.
• Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) Allowance Reimbursed up to $1500 for the purchase of a qualified technology device. Eligible after 90 days of employment, and benefit renews every three years.

Clearance Level: Interim clearance is sufficient for start, Must be able to obtain an Active Secret Clearance. US Citizens only need to apply.

Location: Worker should expect to be onsite 2-3 days/wk; to include Wed as an onsite day.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.