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Learning Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Encord

Learning Design Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The role As a Learning Design Lead, you will build the instructional backbone of our annotator hiring and onboarding pipeline. Today, annotator training and screening are handled ad hoc - no one on ...

Encord

Learning Design Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The role As a Learning Design Lead, you will build the instructional backbone of our annotator hiring and onboarding pipeline. Today, annotator training and screening are handled ad hoc -- no one on ...

Encord

Learning Design Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

The role As a Learning Design Lead, you will build the instructional backbone of our annotator hiring and onboarding pipeline. Today, annotator training and screening are handled ad hoc -- no one on ...

SKIMS

Manager, Retail Learning Design

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Manager, Retail Learning Design Department: Retail - Corporate Employment Type: Full Time Location: Los Angeles HQ Reporting To: Adam farhoud Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000 / year Description ...

SKIMS

Manager, Retail Learning Design

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Manager, Retail Learning Design Department: Retail - Corporate Employment Type: Full Time Location: Los Angeles HQ Reporting To: Adam farhoud Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000 / year Description ...

SKIMS

Manager, Retail Learning Design

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Key Responsibilities Position Summary The Manager, Retail Learning Design is responsible for designing, developing, and managing scalable learning experiences that support SKIMS Retail globally. This ...

SKIMS

Manager, Retail Learning Design

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$18.50 - $23.50/hr

Position Summary The Manager, Retail Learning Design is responsible for designing, developing, and managing scalable learning experiences that support SKIMS Retail globally. This role serves as the ...

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All JobsLearning Design JobsLearning Design Jobs in California

Learning Design information

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How much do learning design jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for learning design in California is $40.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.18 and $52.21 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is learning design?

Learning design is the process of planning, structuring, and creating educational experiences to help learners achieve specific outcomes. It involves analyzing learners' needs, defining objectives, developing instructional materials, and selecting appropriate teaching methods and technologies. Learning designers collaborate with subject matter experts and use evidence-based strategies to ensure content is engaging, accessible, and effective. Their work can be applied in schools, universities, corporate training, and online education environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a learning designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Learning Designer, you need expertise in instructional design principles, curriculum development, and adult learning theories, often supported by a degree in education or instructional design. Familiarity with e-learning authoring tools (such as Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate), learning management systems (LMS), and sometimes certifications like CPLP or ATD are common requirements. Strong communication, creativity, and collaboration skills enable you to translate complex content into engaging learning experiences and work effectively with subject matter experts. These capabilities are critical for designing impactful educational programs that drive learner engagement and measurable outcomes.

What are some common challenges learning designers face when collaborating with subject matter experts?

Learning Designers often work closely with subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop effective educational materials. A frequent challenge is balancing the SME's in-depth knowledge with the need to present information in a clear, engaging, and accessible way for learners. Differences in communication styles or expectations can occur, so strong interpersonal skills and the ability to translate complex content into learner-friendly formats are essential. Building trust and maintaining open, respectful communication helps ensure successful collaboration and high-quality learning experiences.

What is the difference between Learning Design vs Instructional Designer?

AspectLearning DesignInstructional Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in education, instructional design, or related fieldsOften requires similar degrees and certifications in instructional design or education technology
Work EnvironmentDesigns learning experiences across various platforms, including e-learning, classroom, and blended formatsDevelops instructional materials and courses, often collaborating with subject matter experts
Industry UsageUsed broadly in education, corporate training, and e-learning sectorsCommonly used in corporate training, higher education, and e-learning industries

Learning Design and Instructional Designer roles overlap significantly, focusing on creating effective learning experiences. Learning Design often emphasizes the overall planning and structure of learning programs, while Instructional Designers focus more on developing specific instructional materials. Both roles require similar qualifications and are integral to education and training sectors.

Are learning designers in demand?

Learning designers are in increasing demand as organizations focus on effective training and e-learning solutions. They utilize skills in instructional design, curriculum development, and tools like Articulate or Adobe Captivate, often requiring relevant certifications. The role is expected to grow with the expansion of online education and corporate training programs.

How do you become a learning designer?

To become a learning designer, typically one needs a bachelor's degree in education, instructional design, or a related field, along with experience in curriculum development and familiarity with e-learning tools like Articulate or Adobe Captivate. Gaining certifications such as the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) can also enhance job prospects. Building a portfolio of instructional projects and staying updated on educational technology are important steps in the career path.

What are the most commonly searched types of Learning Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Learning Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Learning Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Learning Design job openings:

Learning Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Learning Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,540 per year, or $40.2 per hour.

Learning Design Lead

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Encord
See more jobs at Encordexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About us
Encord is the universal data layer for AI that helps 300+ AI teams train and run models on the right data. Our platform indexes, curates, annotates, and evaluates data across the full AI lifecycle, from development through production.
Trusted by Woven by Toyota, AXA, UiPath, Zipline, and more. We're an ambitious team of 100+ working at the frontier of AI and have raised $60M in Series C funding from Wellington Management, CRV, Next47 and Y Combinator.
The role
As a Learning Design Lead, you will build the instructional backbone of our annotator hiring and onboarding pipeline. Today, annotator training and screening are handled ad hoc - no one on the team has a background in instructional design, and we're essentially winging it. This role exists to fix that: designing training modules robust enough that annotators can learn the task easily, and screening modules rigorous enough that we consistently pass the right people through to production work. This is a foundational hire for a broader goal of automating the end-to-end annotator hiring process.
What you'll do
  • Design and build training modules that teach annotators a given task clearly and efficiently, so they can be onboarded with minimal hand-holding
  • Design screening/assessment modules that are difficult enough to reliably separate annotators who will perform well in production from those who won't
  • Define grading criteria and pass/fail thresholds for screening assessments, advising the team on how to score submissions, since this methodology doesn't currently exist at Encord
  • Use production performance data to continuously validate and refine both training and screening content
  • Partner with the Data Strategy team to move toward a fully automated annotator hiring pipeline

Who we're looking for
  • A rigorous instructional designer with a strong grounding in learning science and assessment design: rubric design, calibrating item/task difficulty, and validity of pass/fail cutoffs
  • A track record of building training or certification content that measurably improves learner readiness
  • Experience designing assessments or screening tools that predict on-the-job performance, ideally in an operational or workforce-training setting
  • Comfortable operating without an established playbook. You'll be building this methodology from scratch
  • Data-driven: you validate and iterate on content using real production performance signals, not just intuition

Experience requirements
  • 5-6+ years of total professional experience
  • At least 2+ years in instructional design, curriculum development, assessment/test design, or a related EdTech role
  • Solid grounding in learning science and assessment design (e.g., rubric design, calibrating item/task difficulty, validity of pass/fail cutoffs)
  • Bonus: background at an EdTech company or in a corporate L&D function
  • Bonus: familiarity with data annotation, labeling, or data operations workflows
  • Bonus: experience designing or scaling a hiring/screening pipeline

Why Encord
  • Competitive salary, commission, and meaningful equity in a high-growth start-up
  • Clear, accelerated growth opportunities as the company scales rapidly
  • Strong in-person culture: 4 days/week
  • Flexible PTO to fully recharge
  • Annual learning & development budget
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
  • Frequent travel opportunities across the U.S., London, and Europe
  • Bi-annual company offsites, twice-weekly team lunches, and monthly socials

Apply