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Primary Function:

The Instructional Systems Designer is the learning-system architect for our military courseware and training-device programs. This role owns the design of the training system end-to-end: analyzing performance requirements, defining terminal and enabling learning objectives, sequencing instruction, and specifying every training product so it fits a single, coherent system.

ISDs on this team are the internal customer to courseware developers, multimedia developers, and training-device engineering. They translate Customer-aligned task and mission analysis into design documents that drive courseware, CBT/IMI (Levels I–IV), training aids, and simulator/PTT training. This is a hands-on, deliverable-producing role — not a coordinator or generalist position.

Essential Responsibilities:

Spends 80% of time on core instructional-systems-design work. Overlap into adjacent roles (SME support, review of build products, instructor input) is expected on a small team but is not the primary mission.

• Front-end analysis. Conduct or lead task, mission, learning, media, and audience analysis (ADDIE / PADDIE+M) to establish performance requirements and training gaps.

• Learning objectives & hierarchies. Author terminal and enabling objectives with conditions and standards; build objective hierarchies and sequencing maps that stand up to customer review.

• Design documents. Produce Instructional Media Design Packages (IMDP), Training Project Plans (TPP), Training System Plans, Course Training Task Lists (CTTL), and NAVAIR training materials in accordance with applicable MIL-HDBK / MIL-PRF standards (e.g., MIL-HDBK-29612 series, MIL-PRF-29612 where applicable).

• Media & fidelity selection. Recommend the appropriate blend of print, instructor-led, IMI Level I–IV, VR/AR, and device-based training based on task criticality, frequency, and cost — with defensible rationale.

• Storyboarding & scripting. Develop storyboards, scripts, and interaction specifications for IMI and CBT that give courseware and multimedia teams a buildable, testable target.

• Assessment design. Design knowledge and performance assessments (written, scenario-based, sim/device) that measure the stated objectives; specify pass/fail criteria and remediation paths.

• SME orchestration. Elicit accurate content from Subject Matter Experts, validate for operational fidelity, and keep SMEs focused on content — not design, build, or delivery.

• Product-fit ownership. Review courseware, multimedia, and training-device output against the design; flag drift; approve products for release into the training system.

• Continuous improvement. Ingest instructor and student feedback, training effectiveness data, and post-course reviews; drive revisions back through the design.

• Customer engagement. Support NAVAIR / Government customer meetings, technical reviews (PDR/CDR-style events), and In-Progress Reviews with clear design artifacts.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Employee will be working within an office environment. Employee may be expected to travel on occasion to locations where specific PPE or attire is necessary.

• Education. Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Instructional Systems, Education, Educational Technology, Learning Sciences, or a closely related field (or equivalent DoD training-development experience).

• Experience. 5–10 years of hands-on ISD work, with a minimum of 3 years on active military courseware development contracts (Navy / NAVAIR / NAWCTSD strongly preferred; USAF / Army training equivalents considered).

• Methodology. Demonstrated fluency with ADDIE and PADDIE+M and the ability to produce compliant deliverables against NAVAIR training standards.

• Standards. Working knowledge of MIL-HDBK-29612 series, SCORM, xAPI, Section 508 accessibility, and Interactive Courseware (ICW) / IMI Level I–IV constructs.

• Design artifacts. Can independently produce learning objective hierarchies, storyboards, IMDPs, TPPs, CTTLs, and test/assessment plans that pass customer review with minimal rework.

• Tooling. Proficient with Microsoft Word / SharePoint / Teams; comfortable specifying builds for Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Rise, and equivalent authoring tools (specification, not necessarily authoring, is the ISD lane).

• Clearance eligibility. U.S. Citizen. Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance; ability to pass a Government background investigation is required.

• Location. Currently resides in the Oklahoma City metro or willing to relocate before start date. This role is on-site — not remote or hybrid.

• Communication. Writes clearly for both technical and non-technical audiences; presents design decisions to Government customers and internal leadership with confidence.

• Active Top-Secret clearance (SCI eligibility a plus).

• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Instructional Systems, or Learning Sciences.

• Direct experience on NAVAIR / NAWCTSD, PMA, or COMNAVAIRFOR training programs.

• Experience designing training for simulators, PTTs, VSIM, or other high-fidelity training devices.

• Familiarity with human performance improvement (HPI), Kirkpatrick evaluation, and training effectiveness measurement.

• CPT (Certified Performance Technologist), ATD APTD/CPTD, or equivalent credentials.

• Experience supporting proposal responses (technical volume writing, past-performance narratives, staffing plans) for DoD training contracts.