Instructional Design Lead in Manchester

We’re a passionate team of builders who are dedicated to delivering solutions that empower people. Today, we’re leveraging AI and gamification to build a vertical platform that is centred around improving the safety readiness of frontline workers in any high-risk industry. If you are a doer who thrives in a dynamic, mission-focused environment, join us!

We're looking for an Instructional Designer to join our content team and help us scale the production of interactive, story-driven safety learning experiences. This role is ideal for someone who believes great learning is more than content delivery—it creates emotional engagement, meaningful decisions, and lasting behaviour change.

What You'll Do

You'll work alongside learning designers, subject matter experts, producers, artists, and developers to design learning experiences used by workers in high-risk industries around the world. Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing scenario-based learning experiences grounded in real workplace situations
• Transforming incident reports, safety procedures, and SME knowledge into engaging learning journeys
• Creating scene-by-scene learning designs for immersive and interactive training modules
• Writing branching narratives, learner choices, feedback, and assessments
• Applying learning science principles to improve retention, transfer, and engagement
• Collaborating closely with our production team to move modules from concept through release
• Helping establish repeatable design patterns and frameworks that improve quality and production speed across our content library
• Using AI tools and emerging technologies to accelerate content creation and iteration

What Success Looks Like

After 12 months in the role, you will:

• Own a content vertical from intake through release
• Have contributed significantly to the growth of our module library
• Be recognised as a trusted design partner across content and production
• Have raised the quality bar for scenario design and learner engagement
• Have developed reusable design approaches that help the entire team move faster

What We're Looking For

Must Have

• Experience designing learning experiences for adult learners
• Strong scenario and narrative design skills
• Ability to create engaging, consequence-driven learning experiences rather than purely informational content
• Solid understanding of instructional design fundamentals, including learning objectives, assessment design, and retention strategies
• A portfolio demonstrating interactive learning experiences and learner engagement
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and move quickly in a fast-paced environment

Nice to Have

• Experience in safety, industrial, technical, or operational training environments
• Experience with game-based learning, simulations, or immersive learning
• Familiarity with AI-assisted content creation workflows
• Experience working with cross-functional product or production teams

How We Work

We're builders. We move quickly, iterate constantly, and care deeply about creating products that genuinely improve outcomes for our customers. You'll be joining a small, ambitious team where ownership is high, feedback is direct, and great ideas can come from anywhere. This role is based in our Manchester office four days per week. We believe our best work happens when designers, creators, and builders spend time together collaborating in person.

How do we support and benefit our employees?

• 2x company-wide meetups per year to meet and bond with your colleagues.
• All the equipment you need to succeed is provided by Pixaera.
• 25 days of company vacation allowance per year in addition to local public holidays. If there is a public holiday that you would rather work, let us know and you can swap it for another day in lieu.
• Competitive stock options.

Why Join Pixaera?

• Help redefine how safety training is delivered globally
• Work at the intersection of learning science, AI, gaming, and immersive technology
• Have meaningful ownership over the experiences you create
• Join a high-calibre team focused on building category-defining products
• See your work directly impact the safety and readiness of frontline workers around the world

If you're excited about creating learning experiences that people actually remember—and that can genuinely change behaviour—we'd love to hear from you. At Pixaera, we’re committed to building a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diverse perspectives fuel creativity and innovation, which is why we celebrate individuality and foster an environment of inclusion and belonging. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer — discrimination of any kind has no place here. No matter your background, identity, or lived experience, you’re welcome at Pixaera.