Sr Manager, X-BAT Training Design

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.Job Description:Shield AI is seeking an X-BAT Training Design Lead to architect and scale the training ecosystem for next-generation autonomous aircraft systems. This role sits at the intersection of operations, engineering, and human performance, owning how pilots, operators, and support personnel are prepared to effectively employ and sustain X-BAT across its full lifecycle.Unlike a traditional training role, this position focuses on designing the system of training, ensuring that training evolves alongside rapid system development, flight testing, and operational deployment. The Training Strategist will work closely with engineering, flight test, operations, and product teams to translate complex system capabilities into scalable, mission-ready training programs that enable safe, effective, and confident real-world use.What you'll do:Design and implement the end-to-end training strategy for X-BAT operators, maintainers, and mission support personnelDefine training pipelines aligned to system maturity, spanning development, flight test, deployment, and sustainmentEstablish training standards, certification frameworks, and readiness criteria to support operational excellenceEnsure training systems are scaled with program growth and deployment needsOversee development of structured training curricula, including operator qualification, mission planning and execution, maintenance, troubleshooting, and system educationTranslate complex system behaviors (autonomy, avionics, mission systems) into clear, digestible learning modulesEnsure alignment between training materials, technical documentation, and real-world system configurationsPartner with engineering and product teams to stay current on system updates, new capabilities, and limitationsIntegrate flight test insights and operational lessons learned into continuously evolving training contentCollaborate with operations teams to validate training effectiveness in mission environmentsWork closely with technical writers to ensure consistency across training and documentationDefine and implement modern training methodologies, including simulation-based training, scenario-driven mission exercises, and blended learning approachesEvaluate and integrate training technologies such as simulators, virtual environments, and AI-assisted toolsEnsure training supports both individual proficiency and team-based mission executionDevelop metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess training effectiveness and operator readinessEstablish certification processes, checkrides, and proficiency benchmarksContinuously refine training based on performance data, mission feedback, and system updatesMaintain alignment between training content and evolving system baselinesRapidly update training materials in response to flight test results, software releases, hardware changes, and operational feedbackSupport fielded units with ongoing training, refresher programs, and updatesManage training knowledge systems, ensuring content is structured, version-controlled, and accessibleBuild repeatable processes for maintaining and distributing training materialsIdentify gaps in training coverage and proactively develop solutionsRequired qualifications: 10+ years of experience in aviation training, military training systems, instructional design, or technical training for complex systemsBachelor's degree in Aviation, Engineering, Instructional Design, Technical Communication, or a related fieldExperience developing training programs for advanced systems (aircraft, UAV/UAS, autonomy, or similar)Strong understanding of aircraft systems, mission operations, or autonomous platformsProven ability to translate complex technical concepts into effective training experiencesExperience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and product teamsFamiliarity with instructional design principles and training system developmentStrong self-sufficient work ethic with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentExcellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skillsHigh attention to detail and consistency across training materials and programsAbility to identify missing, ambiguous, or incomplete information and drive clarityComfort working across time zones and distributed teamsEagerness to work in a fast-moving, nontraditional defense and aerospace environmentPreferred qualifications: Background in military aviation, flight operations, or mission planning environmentsFamiliarity with DoD training frameworks, standards, or qualification programsExperience with simulation-based training systems or virtual/augmented training environmentsExperience building certification pipelines, readiness frameworks, or operator qualification programsDefense industry experienceMaster's degree in Instructional Design, Aviation, Engineering, or a related fieldProject management experience supporting complex, cross-functional programsExperience leveraging AI-enabled tools to enhance training development and delivery$140,000 - $210,000 a year#LI-JM1#LEFull-time regular employee offer package:Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + EquityTemporary employee offer package:Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.###Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.