Learning and Development Manager

About the role

The Manager of Learning and Development owns Skyeton Inc.'s training materials, competency framework, and workforce-qualification system across the company's U.S. manufacturing, flight-operations, and aircraft-maintenance teams. This leader builds the infrastructure that enables Skyeton to verify that every employee who builds, maintains, or operates an aircraft is trained, qualified, and current for the work performed.

This is a hands-on, build-from-the-ground-up role supporting Skyeton's rapidly expanding multi-site footprint. The Manager develops and maintains the competency matrix, qualification and certification program, training-records system, learning-management platform, and canonical curriculum. A central priority is capturing time-sensitive knowledge from Skyeton's international manufacturing team and converting it into durable, version-controlled U.S. training content, qualification standards, and work instructions.

The position initially operates as an individual contributor and player-coach and may grow to lead training coordinators, instructional developers, and qualified lead trainers. The role owns the training materials and qualification system but does not directly supervise production, flight-operations, or maintenance personnel.

What you'll do

· Own the corporate learning and development strategy and build the training function across all Skyeton Inc. U.S. sites, beginning with the Fayetteville manufacturing ramp

· Conduct training-needs analyses by role and work cell and develop and maintain the annual training plan and budget

· Establish standards, templates, and governance for the design, delivery, documentation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of training

· Build and maintain role-based skills and competency matrices for production, support, flight-operations, and aircraft-maintenance roles

· Design and administer qualification and certification programs, including qualification criteria, practical evaluations, written checks, sign-off authority, currency, recertification, and revocation

· Maintain auditable competency, training, and certification records supporting AS9100, OSHA, IPC, ESD, ITAR/EAR, customer, and other applicable requirements

· Represent training and workforce qualification during AS9100 certification, surveillance, customer, and other applicable audits

· Partner with production teams to develop process training and qualification for composites, adhesive bonding and cure, CNC and metrology, aerospace paint, electronics, cable and harness assembly, integration, inspection, aircraft checkout, ground/RF, and avionics activities

· Support training aligned with IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, ANSI/ESD S20.20, AS9102 FAI, and other applicable standards

· Structure documented on-the-job training progression and qualify trainers and mentors through effective train-the-trainer practices

· Own technical onboarding and the development path from new hire to role-qualified or rate-qualified employee

· Develop, standardize, and maintain authoritative, version-controlled curricula and qualification standards for flight-test crews, UAS operators, ground/RF/checkout crews, and aircraft maintainers

· Maintain qualification, standardization, currency, and recurrent-training records aligned, as applicable, with FAA Part 145 and military aviation maintenance and aircrew-standardization practices

· Partner with flight-operations and aircraft-maintenance leadership, who deliver training and own their teams, while L&D owns the materials, standards, and records

· Coordinate mandatory training with functional owners, including EHS, Quality, Human Resources, Trade Compliance, Security, Engineering, and site Operations

· Track required training completion, currency, escalation, and objective evidence so the company can demonstrate compliance on demand

· Select, implement, and administer an LMS and training-records system integrated with Rippling and the quality management system to provide a trusted source of qualification data

· Report key measures including workforce qualification rates, completion and currency, time-to-qualify, trainer utilization, and training-effectiveness indicators such as first-pass yield, rework, and escapes

· Lead capture of Skyeton international hyper-care knowledge transfer into durable U.S. training content, qualification standards, and work instructions before the transfer window closes

· Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to convert translated technical instructions into production-floor training, travelers, and routers and maintain version control aligned with engineering changes

· Standardize and continuously improve learning and development practices across all Skyeton Inc. U.S. sites

· Report performance, risks, and initiatives to leadership on a regular cadence and perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

· 8+ years of experience in training, competency, and workforce qualification within a regulated, safety-critical environment, including at least 3 years leading a training, qualification, or certification function

· Relevant background in either aircraft maintenance and flight operations or corporate and manufacturing learning and development in aerospace, defense, aviation, UAS, or another tightly regulated industry

· Demonstrated hands-on ownership of a competency or skills matrix and an operator, aircrew, or maintainer qualification and certification program that was built or substantially rebuilt

· Working knowledge of applicable qualification requirements, such as AS9100 or ISO 9001 competency requirements and/or FAA Part 145 maintenance qualification and aircrew standardization

· Familiarity with relevant technical workmanship or process standards and training schemes, including IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, ANSI/ESD S20.20, AS9102 FAI, or equivalent task-qualification systems

· Practical instructional-design and train-the-trainer experience, including structured on-the-job training with documented sign-offs

· Experience selecting, implementing, and administering an LMS and maintaining disciplined, auditable training records

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with executives, auditors, customers, subject-matter experts, and employees

· Ability to travel domestically approximately 25-40% to Skyeton facilities, partner or OEM training, customer meetings, and audit events

· Must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable ITAR/EAR regulations

Preferred Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline, education or instructional design, industrial technology, human resources, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

· Relevant professional certification such as ATD CPTD or APTD; IPC CIT or MIT; FAA A&P or Inspection Authorization; recognized aviation-maintenance or aircrew-instructor credential; ASQ CQIA, CMQ/OE, or Certified Quality Auditor; or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP

· Composite manufacturing, wet-layup, aircraft-maintenance, or flight-operations training experience

· Experience establishing a training and qualification function for a new plant or rapidly scaling operation

· U.S. military veteran or DoD program experience

· Familiarity with the Sandhills and Fort Bragg labor market

Skills & Competencies

· Credibility on the shop floor and in the classroom and the ability to earn technician trust while consistently upholding qualification standards

· Instructional rigor combined with strong systems, records, and audit-evidence discipline

· Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to translate complex technical knowledge into effective training

· Cross-functional influence and collaboration without direct authority over technical subject-matter experts

· Calm, structured leadership in a fast-paced, schedule-driven startup environment

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to connect training outcomes to quality and production performance

· High standards of safety, integrity, discretion, accountability, follow-through, and documentation

· Adaptability, initiative, sound judgment, and a bias for action

Benefits

· Paid Time Off (PTO)

· 401(k) plan with company match

· Medical insurance: company-paid employee coverage

· Dental and vision insurance

· Competitive salary commensurate with experience

· Sign-on and relocation assistance may be negotiable

· Bonus and equity eligibility in accordance with Skyeton compensation policies

· Career growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding aerospace organization

· Opportunity to build a company-wide training and qualification function supporting advanced unmanned aerial systems

Work Environment

· Full-time, primarily on-site role located in Fayetteville, North Carolina

· Regular presence on the production floor and interaction with manufacturing, inspection, flight-operations, maintenance, warehouse, and controlled-production areas

· Industrial manufacturing environment with potential exposure to noise, machinery, chemicals, adhesives, composite materials, dust, and ESD-controlled areas

· Ability to stand, walk, and climb for extended periods and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation

· Must be able to use required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, hearing protection, respirator, gloves, and safety footwear

· Approximately 25-40% domestic travel across Skyeton facilities and to partner, OEM, standards-body, customer, or audit events

· Availability for calls across U.S. time zones and occasional cross-Atlantic meetings with Skyeton international teams

· Ability to handle confidential and export-controlled information in accordance with company policy

Equal Opportunity Statement

Skyeton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

This position is subject to U.S. export-control regulations (ITAR/EAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons as defined by applicable law. A pre-employment background check, drug screen, and reference verification are required. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain any clearances required by Skyeton customers and contracts.