Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Human Factors Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

Are you passionate about understanding the intricate relationship between people and technology? Do you excel at transforming complex user data into clear, actionable design recommendations? This role requires a dedicated Human Factors Analyst to join our innovative team. In this role, you will be the voice of the user, applying scientific principles of human cognition and behavior to the design and evaluation of our products and systems. You will play a crucial part in minimizing user error, enhancing usability, and ensuring our solutions meet the highest standards of safety and user satisfaction. If you are a curious, analytical problem-solver who wants to make a tangible impact on user experience, we encourage you to apply.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior UX Researcher or Usability Analyst
Human Factors Intern or Co-op
Academic Researcher in Psychology or HCI
Industrial Designer with a focus on ergonomics

Advancement To:

Senior Human Factors Analyst / Engineer
Human Factors Team Lead or Research Manager
UX Strategist or Principal UX Researcher
Product Manager

Lateral Moves:

UX/UI Designer
Systems Engineer
Product Manager
Technical Writer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, design, and execute comprehensive user research and usability studies, including formative and summative evaluations, using a diverse set of methodologies like contextual inquiry, cognitive walkthroughs, and think-aloud protocols.
Conduct detailed task analyses, workflow analyses, and user needs assessments to deeply understand user goals, behaviors, and pain points within complex operational environments.
Develop and author clear, concise human factors documentation, including user research plans, test protocols, use-related risk analyses (URRA), and detailed summary reports for regulatory submissions (e.g., FDA, FAA).
Translate user research findings and ergonomic principles into actionable design requirements and tangible recommendations for engineering, design, and product management teams.
Perform rigorous qualitative and quantitative data analysis on user research data, survey results, and system performance metrics to derive meaningful insights that drive evidence-based design decisions.
Lead and facilitate heuristic evaluations and expert reviews of user interfaces and physical products to identify potential usability issues and deviations from established human factors principles and standards.
Design and develop user profiles, personas, and user journey maps based on ethnographic research to foster empathy and a shared understanding of the user across the organization.
Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, including industrial designers, software developers, and quality engineers, to integrate human-centered design principles throughout the entire product development lifecycle.
Evaluate physical ergonomics, anthropometry, and biomechanics of hardware and workplace designs to optimize user comfort, safety, and long-term health.
Define and analyze system and user requirements from a human factors perspective, ensuring that they are clear, testable, and align with user capabilities and limitations.
Plan and conduct simulated use validation testing and field studies to assess product performance, safety, and user acceptance in realistic or actual use environments.
Present compelling research findings, insights, and design recommendations to a wide range of stakeholders, from technical teams to executive leadership, in a clear and persuasive manner.
Stay abreast of current trends, standards, and best practices in Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and User Experience (UX) to continuously improve our internal processes and methodologies.
Analyze and investigate post-market surveillance data, incident reports, and user feedback to identify opportunities for product improvements and future design enhancements.
Develop wireframes, mockups, or low-fidelity prototypes to effectively communicate and evaluate design concepts with users and internal teams.

Secondary Functions

Support the creation and maintenance of a user research repository to ensure findings are accessible and reusable across the organization.
Contribute to the development and refinement of internal human factors engineering processes, guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
Mentor junior team members, interns, and colleagues from other disciplines on human factors principles and user-centered design methodologies.
Assist in vendor selection and management for external research services, tools, and participant recruitment.
Participate in design sprints, backlog grooming, and other agile ceremonies, providing continuous human factors input to the development team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Usability Testing Methodologies: Deep expertise in planning and conducting a wide range of qualitative and quantitative usability studies (formative/summative, moderated/unmoderated).
User Research Techniques: Proficiency in contextual inquiry, ethnographic studies, interviews, focus groups, and card sorting.
Data Analysis: Strong ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data using tools such as SPSS, R, Excel, or Python, as well as qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Dovetail).
Task & Workflow Analysis: Proven experience in breaking down complex user activities into detailed steps to inform design and identify risks.
Survey Design & Analysis: Skill in creating and deploying effective surveys using platforms like Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey and analyzing the resulting data.
Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with wireframing and prototyping software such as Figma, Axure RP, or Balsamiq to visualize concepts.
HF Standards & Guidelines: Knowledge of relevant industry standards, such as ISO 9241, ISO 62366, and human factors guidance from bodies like the FDA or FAA.
Heuristic Evaluation: Ability to conduct expert reviews based on established usability heuristics (e.g., Nielsen's heuristics).

Soft Skills

Analytical & Critical Thinking: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex information, identify root causes of issues, and formulate logical, data-driven conclusions.
Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts and research findings clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
Empathy & User Advocacy: A genuine passion for understanding and representing the user's perspective, needs, and motivations.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong collaborative mindset with a proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
Problem-Solving: Proactive and creative in identifying problems and developing innovative and practical solutions.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to planning research, collecting data, and documenting findings to ensure accuracy and rigor.
Influencing & Persuasion: Adept at building consensus and advocating for user-centered changes with stakeholders at all levels.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field is required.

Preferred Education:

A Master's Degree or Ph.D. is highly preferred and may substitute for some years of experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Human Factors Engineering or Human Factors Psychology
Cognitive Psychology or Experimental Psychology
Industrial Engineering
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Ergonomics or Kinesiology
Industrial Design or Systems Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7 years of professional experience in an applied Human Factors, Usability Engineering, or UX Research role.

Preferred:

Experience working within regulated industries such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, defense, or automotive is a significant plus.
A portfolio of work samples demonstrating experience with various research methodologies and their impact on product design is strongly encouraged.