Sr. Instructional System Design (ISD3)

Amentum company; Dundalk (MD); On-site; USD 155,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Tax-saving options

Disability and life insurance

Pet insurance

Job summary

Amentum is seeking an experienced Instructional Systems Design professional to design, test, and govern complex e-learning content for sensitive environments. You will develop interactive courseware, assessments, and performance-based exercises, ensuring accessibility and alignment with objectives and standards.

You will lead design reviews, coordinate with SMEs and instructors, and supervise junior designers while ensuring controlled releases and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• PhD/ master's/ bachelor's with years of relevant experience as stated.
• Strong expertise in SAM/ADDIE model and eLearning tooling.

Responsibilities

• Design learning objects for e-training solutions (Captivate or govt. approved tools).
• Test and QA methodologies for modular eLearning objects with validation criteria.
• Design practical exercises in virtualized environment to demonstrate concepts.
• Create formative/summative assessments linking objectives, instruction, and assessment artifacts.
• Lead junior designers and manage workflows.
• Map course objectives to KSA/JQS requirements.
• Establish learning pathways and sequencing for progressive mastery.
• Ensure 508/WCAG accessibility in courseware and document evidence.

Skills

Subject matter collaboration

Adult learning methods

Communication skills

Design governance

Education

Doctoral degree in ISD/IT/Education/Communications

Master's degree +8 years relevant

Bachelor's degree +10 years relevant

Associate's degree +12 years relevant

High school diploma +14 years relevant

Tools

Captivate

LMS

Job description

Designs, develops, and revises complex interactive, virtual (learning, and/or instructor-led courses of a technical nature. Ensures the integrity of task analysis, training requirements, training hierarchies, instructional materials, and evaluation plans. Converts written materials and/or training requirements into online and/or instructor-led interactive courseware. Develops flow diagrams and storyboards to design instructionally sound e-Learning solutions using a variety of delivery media. Works with subject matter experts to ensure technical accuracy of instructional content. Develops course manuals, training aids, and audio/visual materials as needed to enhance training. Leads instructional design architecture and governance for assigned courses, establishes design standards, and coordinates cross-team implementation with Content Developers/SMEs, CM, LMS, QA, and instructors to support controlled releases and continuous improvement

Work Schedule: The courses being supported are active from 0800-1700 M-F. Contract core hours are 1000-1400.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Design learning objects for interactive e-training solutions (for example: Captivate, or another Government-approved tools delivery).
• Test and provide Quality Assurance methodologies for modularized eLearning objects including defining validation criteria/checklists and ensuring evidence is captured in Government-approved formats as directed.
• Design cumulative eLearning practical exercises in a virtualized environment that mimics a real-world experience and provides learners an opportunity to demonstrate concepts presented in the course.
• Design formative and summative assessments to gauge the learner's mastery of key concepts presented in learning materials and ensure traceability between objectives, instruction, and assessment artifacts.
• Provide task leadership, manage workflows, and oversee junior designers.
• Develop structure for and conduct mapping of course objectives to KSA and/or JQS requirements.
• Establish the learning pathways, prerequisites, and sequencing rules for the order in which students shall complete the evolutions and modules to support progressive mastery and appropriate cognitive load.
• Background knowledge of complex hardware/software systems is desired.
• Establish and enforce instructional design standards/templates/style guides; lead design reviews and ensure consistent application across modules and releases.
• Coordinate with Configuration Management to ensure instructional design artifacts are version-controlled, include required revision histories, and support-controlled release packaging and change summaries for Government review.
• Lead pilot and post-delivery improvement cycles by analyzing learner performance data/feedback, documenting findings, and implementing approved revisions; coordinate retest/validation as required.
• Ensure Section 508/WCAG accessibility is designed into courseware, and that validation and remediation evidence is documented for Government review as required.
• Evaluate and develop high-stakes exams for web-based training.

Security Clearance Required: TS/SCI w/ Poly

Minimum Education:

Doctoral degree in Instructional Systems Design, Instructional Technology, Education, English, Communications, or related field and a minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience;

OR

Master's degree and a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience;

OR

Bachelor's degree and a minimum of (10) years of relevant experience;

OR

Associate's degree (or 18 semester hours of military coursework/training in a related field) and a minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience

OR

High school diploma/GED and a minimum of fourteen (14) years of relevant experience

Minimum Years of Experience:

• Extensive experience working with subject matter experts to ensure technical accuracy of instructional contentExtensive knowledge of adult learning methods, the SAM / ADDIE model, and a variety of technologies,techniques,and tools (e.g., Learning Management Systems and the latest version of Captivate) to support the creation of eLearning solutions
• Strong writing and verbal communication skillsin order tocollaborate with content developers and other designers
• Desired but notrequired: Background knowledge of complex hardware/software systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience establishing and enforcing design standards/templates/style guides and leading design reviews is required.
• Experience ensuring traceability between objectives, instruction, and assessments; coordinating with testing experts for high-stakes assessments; Experience selecting/standardizing Government-approved authoring tools, publishing formats, and reusable learning object approaches is desired.
• Experience defining validation criteria/checklists for courseware and maintaining audit-ready evidence of verification actions is required.
• Experience overseeing Section 508/WCAG compliance activities for courseware, including remediation verification and documentation, is required.

Other Responsibilities:

Safety - Amentum enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe work environment. As appropriate, each employee is responsible for completing all training requirements and fulfilling all self-aid/buddy aid responsibilities, participating in emergency response tasks and serving on safety committees and teams.

Quality - Quality is the foundation for the management of our business and the keystone to our goal of customer satisfaction. It is our policy to consistently provide services that meet customer expectations. Accordingly, each employee must conform to the Amentum Quality Policy and carry out job activities in compliance with applicable Amentum Quality System documents and customer contracts. Each employee must read and understand his/her Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction responsibilities.

Procedure Compliance - Each employee must read, understand and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures and policies pertaining to his/her job. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Compensation Details:

$155,000 - $205,000

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)

• Educational reimbursement

• Parental leave

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Tax-saving options

• Disability and life insurance

• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting:

09/25/2026 - Until Filled

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.