Senior Instructional Designer - Dev Testing and R&D

Senior Instructional Designer with Dev Testing and R & D Experience

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Location:

This is a hybrid position (3 days onsite, 2 days remote), with onsite required in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or Dallas Fort Worth, Aledo, or Palmer, Texas

At Sweet Rush, we believe that when you put people at the center of business, magic happens. As a global leader in learning and development, we blend high-end storytelling, emerging tech like AI and VR, and deep psychological insights to help organizations—from iconic global brands to essential nonprofits—flourish. We are a remote-first, tight-knit community built on a foundation of radical empathy and creative excellence.

Our work isn’t just about the awards we win with incredible partners such as Hilton, Google, Bridgestone, Adidas, SHRM, and numerous others; it’s about balancing profit with a genuine desire to spread good in the world. If you are a caring innovator who believes work should be life-centered and impactful, then this is where you come in…

We are seeking a highly experienced and technical Senior Instructional Designer to join our Research and Development (R&D) team. This role is critical in designing and developing innovative learning solutions for engineers, test drivers, and field operations personnel working on our autonomous vehicle (AV) technology.

The ideal candidate will translate complex technical concepts from our R&D and Development Testing programs into effective, scalable learning experiences. This position requires a professional who can operate at the intersection of instructional design principles and the fast‑paced, safety‑critical nature of autonomous vehicle development.

• Design and develop comprehensive training programs for technical, operational, and frontline audiences involved in AV development, testing, and field operations.
• Apply instructional design models (ADDIE, SAM) and adult learning principles to create engaging learning experiences focused on AV safety protocols, complex hardware and software systems, and on-the-road testing procedures.
• Conduct thorough needs analyses with R&D engineers, test managers, and subject matter experts to inform design decisions and address specific performance gaps.
• Develop learning objectives tied to measurable behavioral outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs) for testing and operational efficiency.

• Create compelling multimedia learning content for technical training, including interactive scenarios and simulations of real-world AV challenges.
• Collaborate with engineers to transform complex technical data, such as sensor outputs and perception algorithms, into accessible and clear learning materials.
• Design and produce training for software and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments.
• Ensure all content meets accessibility standards and aligns with our brand and safety guidelines.

• Design and implement in-vehicle or closed-course pilot testing protocols for new training programs to validate effectiveness in a real-world environment.
• Analyze learning data, telemetry, and driver/operator performance metrics to continuously optimize instructional strategies.
• Conduct learning effectiveness research using quantitative and qualitative methods to ensure training drives desired behavioral outcomes and enhances safety.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and methodologies in learning science and AV development to innovate training solutions.

• Manage multiple instructional design projects simultaneously, adhering to project timelines and quality standards.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including AV Software & Hardware Engineering, Test Operations, Safety, and Legal departments.
• Present design concepts and learning solutions to senior leadership and technical stakeholders, leading iterative design processes based on feedback and performance data.

• 6+ years of progressive experience as an instructional designer, with a demonstrated focus on highly…