Talent Development Manager Jobs in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

At ICEYE, we design, build and operate the largest fleet of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites in the world. Using advanced technology, our constellation collects topographical data about any location on Earth, day or night, through any weather conditions.

Headquartered in Southern California, our customers are society’s heroes – intelligence professionals, warfighters, first responders, and scientific researchers. As a trusted mission partner, the United States and its allies depend on us for critical information when it matters most.

This is a hybrid strategic and hands-on role built for a company scaling quickly. We're looking for someone who can operate as a builder now — rolling up their sleeves on this year's execution priorities — while also shaping the talent development strategy that will carry the company through significant headcount growth over the next several years. Reporting to the Head of People, this role will be one of the first dedicated additions to a lean People team and will play a foundational part in standing up programs that don't yet exist.

This is not a role for someone who wants to only advise from the sidelines. In year one especially, success means shipping — building frameworks, running enablement sessions, and getting programs live — while keeping an eye on how each piece fits into a durable, scalable talent development function.

Immediate priorities reflect a few major initiatives already on the roadmap:

• Performance Cycle Rebuild — Redesign and lead rollout of the company's performance management cycle, including manager and employee toolkits, calibration process, and timeline.
• Job Architecture Training — Partner with the Head of People to translate the new job architecture and leveling framework into practical, digestible training for managers and employees company-wide.
• Manager Enablement — Design and deliver a manager enablement program covering core people-management skills (feedback, coaching, performance conversations, leveling decisions) for a manager population that is growing rapidly and unevenly experienced.

Stand up the supporting materials (guides, templates, FAQs, communication plans) needed to make each of the above self-sustaining rather than one-time efforts.

• Partner with the Head of People to build a multi-year talent development roadmap aligned to the company's growth trajectory.
• Identify capability gaps across the employee and manager population as the company scales, and translate them into development priorities.
• Bring external best practice and market benchmarking into program design, tailored to the company's stage and culture.

• Design, build, and facilitate training programs, toolkits, and resources — performance management, manager enablement, career development, and related programs.
• Own program logistics end‑to‑end where needed: scheduling, materials, communications, and follow‑through, particularly while the team is small.
• Build feedback loops and simple metrics to evaluate whether programs are landing and where to iterate.

• Serve as a go‑to resource for managers navigating performance, leveling, and development conversations.
• Create scalable enablement content (playbooks, job aids, live sessions) rather than one‑off, in‑person‑only support.
• Help managers and employees understand and use the job architecture and leveling framework in day‑to‑day decisions.

• Work closely with the Head of People on sequencing and change management for major rollouts (performance cycle, job architecture, future initiatives).
• Partner with business leaders to ensure programs reflect real operational needs, not just HR theory.

• 5+ years of experience in talent development, learning & development, organizational development, or a closely related HR discipline, ideally including time at a smaller or scaling company.
• Demonstrated experience owning a program from design through delivery — not just contributing to one someone else built.
• Experience with performance management cycle design and/or manager enablement programs specifically is a strong plus.

• Comfort operating without a lot of existing infrastructure; genuinely energized by building things from scratch.
• Strong facilitation and content-design skills; able to make technical HR concepts (leveling, calibration) land with non-HR audiences.
• Familiarity with job architecture/leveling frameworks (e.g., Pave or similar market‑pricing tools) is a plus, not required.
• Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or another regulated/technical industry is a plus given the environment, though not a requirement.

• The estimated base salary range for this role is $150k - $180k depending on experience
• Other benefits include health coverage, flexible PTO, a friendly work environment, plus extra fun perks!

This position primarily works in an office environment. It requires the ability to sit or stand for long periods of time and frequent walking. Daily use of a computer, phone, office equipment and other computing and digital devices is required. Some travel may be necessary – the ability to travel by car, plane, train, bus, vessel, or metro, operate a motor vehicle and maintain a valid Driver’s License and/or effectively navigate public transportation is required.

While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee must be able to read and respond to inter‑office communications as well as effectively participate in meetings. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands or fingers, to lift up to 50 lbs., pull, push, carry, handle, or feel. The employee is required to carry, handle items, reach with arms and hands, to stoop, kneel, or crouch; talk, or hear. Mental demands may require prolonged concentration, reading comprehension, understanding and interpretation of concepts, ideas, and philosophies. The physical demands of the position described herein are essential functions of the job and employees must be able to successfully perform these tasks for extended periods. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those individuals with real or perceived disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job described unless such accommodations would cause ICEYE US an undue burden.

ICEYE US is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.