Human Factors Engineer Skills, Experiences, and Job Requirements

HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEER SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Published: July 17, 2025 - The Human Factors Engineer supports medical device development through human factors studies, risk management, and usability documentation. This role requires strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. The engineer ensures regulatory compliance and promotes safe, user-centered design.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Human Factors Engineer Resume

User Research
Usability Testing
Risk Analysis
Task Analysis
UI Design
System Design
Regulatory Compliance
Human Performance
Prototyping
Data Analysis

Cross-Functional Collaboration
Stakeholder Communication
Project Leadership
Strategic Planning
Creative Thinking
Team Collaboration
Problem Solving
Mentoring
Client Management
Process Improvement

Summary of Human Factors Engineer Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BS in Systems Engineering with 7 years of Experience

Strong knowledge of Software Engineering, including programming
Good knowledge of military operations
Experience of working in large, multi-disciplinary teams
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Ability to produce high-quality documentation to tight timescales
Willingness to work towards Registered Membership of the CIEHF
Experience in the application of anthropometric data with SammieCAD or an equivalent Ergonomic assessment tool
Ability to select, scale, and adapt the toolkit to a variety of investigative, information-gathering, and analysis tasks
Proficiency in statistical analysis and data visualization
Experience in prototyping study tools to verify research hypotheses for interaction technology
Ability to present research findings and recommendations to all levels of partners, including executive management
Ability to rapidly acquire familiarity with emergent technologies and software algorithms
Experience in Motion Capture, VR/AR, Multi-Sensory Interactions, and Biomechanics

2. BS in Mechanical Engineering with 6 years of Experience

Working experience in human factors engineering, human computer interaction, human factors psychology, biomedical engineering, or systems engineering
Experience with demonstrated ability to apply understanding of human factors or usability engineering to issues to bring tasks to resolution within assigned projects
Demonstrated ability to effectively integrate information from varied disciplines, including Clinical Affairs, Engineering, Marketing and Regulatory Affairs
Strong analytical problem-solving skills
Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment
Strong verbal and written communication ability
Able to meet deadlines promptly
Work experience in medical product development and/or a graduate degree with relevant project experience in human factors
Professional experience in the fields of engineering, aerospace
Experience in Human Factors Engineering
Experience with Graphical User Interface
Very good knowledge of English

3. BS in Human Factors Engineering with 3 years of Experience

Experience in applying human factors to medical devices
Experience writing formative and validation stage study protocols and reports consistent with health authority expectations
Experience developing and assessing instructions for use documents and training materials for medical devices/combination products
Working knowledge of relevant human factors, design controls, and risk management
Experience with and understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including usability studies, in-context interviews, and ethnographic observation
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to communicate study results and recommendations to large teams
High level of initiative and passion for human factors in the medical field

4. BS in Industrial Engineering with 4 years of Experience

Experience in Human Factors Engineering with Army or DoD training processes, support systems, products, policies, and techniques
Well-versed in fundamental visual and interactive software and mobile design disciplines
System user interface design experience with demonstrated problem-solving skills
Ability to acquire and maintain DOE Q clearance
Demonstrated Human Systems Integration knowledge in product and process design, implementation, and improvement
Experience and demonstrated ability to work independently and on interdisciplinary teams of researchers and engineers to develop new, creative solutions
Outstanding communication skills, including technical writing and interpersonal skills
Proven track record of building and maintaining collaborative and customer relationships
Must have critical analysis skills and be detail-oriented
Strong project management skills

5. BS in Electrical Engineering with 6 years of Experience

Experience designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting Human Factors research studies
Solid background in statistical analysis
Working experience in the automotive industry
Experience designing, conducting and analyzing human factors studies
Working experience in the automotive industry
Experience working on defining comfortable vehicle motion
Experience working on motion sickness
Ability to think creatively and to champion innovative design solutions
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong team player with a record of collaboration
Must have excellent networking skills
Strong organizational and administrative skills
Strong problem-solving and conflict management skills

6. BS in Computer Engineering with 7 years of Experience

Professional Ergonomics and/or Human Factors experience in a physical product company (CPG, durable goods, consumer electronics, sporting goods, etc)
Experience with performing product usability assessments
Familiarity and experience executing a user-centered design (UCD) driven project
Extensive knowledge of ergonomic design and principles
Able to work independently as well as take direction and work within established strategic and business guidelines
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and international multidisciplinary team environment
Strong presentation, negotiation, and communication skills
Able to use CAD software such as Jack
Able to use User Interface prototyping tools such as Axure
Good understanding of Systems Engineering and disciplines that interact with Human Factors (Supportability, Training, Systems) including definition and verification of HF requirements
Good understanding of the Military user community and ways of working
Ability to generate technical reports
Good planning skills and customer-focused
Must have effective communication skills

7. BS in Biomedical Engineering with 5 years of Experience

Experience in the design or operation of a Naval Reactor Plant
Able to author, review and edit study protocols and reports, research summaries, usability requirements and design control documentation
Able to perform task analysis, usability-related risk analyses, interface evaluations and provide design recommendations
Able to conduct and be responsible for user inquiries, user studies, data gathering and data analysis
Able to work with other HF team members to develop and implement HF process improvements
Must have shown understanding of FDA Human Factors Guidance, Design Controls, ANSI/AAMI HE75, ISO/IEC 62366
Able to thrive in a dynamic work environment where you can have a positive impact on patients' lives
Demonstrable ability to work in multidisciplinary teams to tight deadlines
Understanding of the role of Human Factors in complex and safety-critical systems
Ability to provide clear, concise and accurate assessments and to communicate ideas and important issues clearly, both in writing and verbally

8. BS in Systems Engineering with 7 years of Experience

Work experience in medical devices
Ability to work autonomously or in a team setting with high-level direction
Proven ability to work with multidisciplinary teams
Ability to navigate and perform in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment with an understanding of design controls and quality systems
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
Able to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines promptly
Previous working experience in General human factors/usability engineering
Working experience in medical human factors/usability
General knowledge of user interface design, human perception, cognition, anthropometry, biomechanics, human behavior, and physiology
Experience in usability and testing methodology, scenario development, contextual inquiry, conducting usability evaluations, and questionnaire/survey development
Understanding of risk and use of error analysis
Experience designing solutions to usability issues
Familiarization with medical product design regulations, regulatory guidance and standards

9. BS in Mechanical Engineering with 6 years of Experience

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, attention to detail, patience, and aesthetic sensibility
Passion for assessing and enhancing ergonomic interaction, comfort, and fit of products while accounting for human variability
Experience or desire to learn about ear anatomy
Experience with CAD and modeling techniques used by collaborators (e.g., FEA, parametric modeling, NURBS)
Expertise in creating thorough experimental designs, utilizing scientific methods
Expertise in conducting usability studies and interview techniques related to product use
Mixed methods expertise to combine quantitative and qualitative research approaches
Ability to customize data collection tools, as well as manipulate, analyze and visualize outputs
Proven experience in human factors and/or consumer product usability evaluation
Ability to distill research insights into presentations for engineers and designers in a concise way

10. BS in Aerospace Engineering with 5 years of Experience

Working experience in human factors engineering or a related discipline
Proven track record of experience conducting user research, including moderating and/or analyzing data from user research to evaluate products and identify opportunities for improvement
Demonstrated experience translating qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights, requirements, and documentation for medical product and UI/UX design
Demonstrate competency in a broad range of user-centered design and usability methods
Ability to understand and adhere to applicable safety, quality, and environmental programs, policies, and procedures
Passion for quality and exceeding expectations in a fast-paced consulting environment
Must be proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite
Experience working in medical devices and a consulting environment
Knowledge of / experience with the regulatory landscape related to the application of human factors engineering to medical devices and combination products

11. BS in Computer Engineering with 7 years of Experience

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with tact
Ability to work well under a moderate level of supervision
Ability to address issues and solutions in clear and concise written and verbal communication
Good knowledge of Human Factors Engineering
Prior experience with human factors analyses and/or designing and executing usability studies
Ability to become familiar with relevant quality regulations (21 CFR Part 820.30), human factors/usability engineering standards (IEC 62366-1, ANSI HE75, ISO 14971), and FDA guidance
Proven track record indicating ability to work collaboratively across functions (i.e., R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, other functions)
Ability to write formative and summative usability study protocols and reports, and author human factors summary reports consistent with health authority expectations
Ability to work cross-functionally on risk management activities
Ability to design instructions for use (IFU) documents and training materials for medical devices/combination products and conducting usability testing of them
Experience interfacing with external consultancies, or as part of an external consultancy team that supports the design and development of new medical devices for the Engineer II level
Demonstrated ability to analyze data, including knowledge and proficiency with basic statistics
Proven ability to communicate how study results can be implemented into design

12. BA in Industrial Design with 3 years of Experience

Working experience in HF Project Management
Ability to work effectively with remote team members
Excellent written and oral English communication skills
Understanding of own limitations
Experience in providing user interface design recommendations, including instructions for use, labeling, and device design support
Ability to solicit and utilize subject matter expert input
Ability to motivate self and team members
Able to thrive in a fast-paced, growing, and dynamic work environment

13. BS in Engineering Psychology with 8 years of Experience

Demonstrates working knowledge of aviation, avionics, and applicable FAA regulations including a pilot’s license or equivalent aviation experience
Demonstrates basic knowledge of Garmin Integrated Flight Decks and general knowledge of most Garmin aviation products
Demonstrates strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Must be team-oriented, possess a positive attitude and work well with others
Previous work or internship experience working on consumer or aviation products
Exposure to quantitative and qualitative UX methodologies such as usability testing, task analysis, heuristic reviews, card sorts, persona development, contextual inquiries and surveys
Must have exposure to analyzing and synthesizing user data to identify usability insights and translate those insights into actionable recommendations
Must possess observation and documentation skills
Must possess knowledge of usability, accessibility, SEO and other standard best practices
Demonstrated experience simultaneously supporting multiple projects of varying complexity
Superior organizational and analytical skills with keen attention to detail and quality
Experience with Human-Machine Interface
Experience with Human Factors Theory
Experience with Conception and development of Machine Interface

14. BS in Applied Physics with 5 years of Experience

Direct experience in Human Factors Engineering and evaluation of medical, business or consumer products
Working experience in medical device human factors
Familiarity with existing IEC Usability standards, AAMI Human Factors standards and/or FDA Human Factors Guidance
Industry experience in HF or human-centered system design
Strong Systems Engineering background
Demonstrated aptitude for human-centered design
Experience in human-in-the-loop evaluation
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Industry experience in HF or human-centered system design
Operational experience in a technology-intensive, safety-critical environment
Working experience in vehicle user-interface design

15. BA in Communication Studies with 4 years of Experience

Experience in HFE in the regulated medical device industry, under 21 CFR 820/ISO 13485
Experience with writing and maintaining a Product uFMEA, Product Task Analysis, and controlled documentation
Experience with applying Usability Standard IEC 62366, Risk Management Standard ISO 14971, FDA QSR, and FDA Guidance on Usability
Experience writing user research plans, scripts, and reports
Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional product development teams
Experience working with novel technologies in a lean, fast-paced and highly innovative environment
Experience with digital health, health IT or mobile medical applications
Working knowledge of the application of regulatory requirements for wellness, low-risk and high-risk software applications using a scalable approach to HFE practices within a QMS
Proven track record in bringing an FDA-regulated product to launch

16. BS in Neuroscience with 3 years of Experience

Understanding of human factors requirements, standards, and guidance, ideally with commercial experience
Experience/understanding in HF Integration Plan development
Understanding of the Design Verification and Validation (V&V) process
Good understanding of ergonomic/anthropometrics assessment processes
Familiarity with Human Factors Methods (NASA-TLX, Human Error Analysis, SHERPA, HAZOP, Hierarchical Task Analysis, among others)
Good organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
Experience using the CATIA Mannequin Module
Experience writing technical reports
Experience in working within multidisciplinary teams, providing human factors guidance to design teams

17. BA in Design Psychology with 5 years of Experience

Experience working with commercial and/or government clients
Experience working with commercial and/or government clients
Solid understanding of the theories, principles, and data associated with human performance capabilities and limitations (perceptual, cognitive, motor, biomechanical, and anthropometric) as demonstrated by successful completion of relevant coursework in the associated degree
Proven experience in the Human Factors (HF) principles/methods of human-centered design, observational research, ergonomic design, human/machine interface, and data collection/analysis as demonstrated by a track record of involvement in research, design, and evaluation projects
Proven experience executing HF projects to schedule and budget, managing HF project teams, and interfacing directly with client HF technical representatives
Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with both internal and external counterparts
Proficient use of Microsoft Office, Excel, and other standard programs for professional work
Experience across the medical device development continuum, from concept development activities through product launch
Experience working within medical device development Quality Systems (ISO 13485, 90001, etc)
Experience applying standards and guidance as documented

18. BS in Computer Engineering with 7 years of Experience

Experience in applying human factors to medical device or combination product development
Experience writing formative and validation stage study protocols and reports and human factors summary reports consistent with health authority expectations
Experience working cross-functionally on activities such as risk management
Experience developing and assessing instructions for use documents and training materials for medical devices/combination products
Experience working with human factors external consultancies, or as part of an external consultancy team that supported the design and development of new medical devices
Demonstrated ability to analyze data and identify relevant design updates
Ability to communicate study results and recommendations to large teams
Working knowledge of relevant human factors, design controls, and risk management
Ability to communicate effectively in writing, verbally, and as a presenter
Demonstrated time management, decision-making, presentation, and organization skills
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate actively and proactively with others in a cross-functional team
High level of initiative and passion for human factors and the medical field

19. BA in User Experience Design with 2 years of Experience

Experience working as a Human Factors Engineer in the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and/or Medical Device/Combination Products industries
Familiarity with FDA Guidance or EU MDR and ISO standards on Human Factors
Knowledge and experience with 21 CFR 820.30 Design Controls as well as CFR part 4 requirements for Drug/Device combination products
Experience in Usability Risk Management including using risk analysis tools such as hazard analyses, FMEA, Task Analyses, use-related risk analysis, and other risk assessments
Strong Technical Writing experience and HF/UFE Report writing by FDA HF Guidance
Experience writing protocols and reports for Preliminary Evaluations (Formative Studies) as well as User Interface Design Validation Studies
Experience with conducting and/or moderating HF Studies
Must have excellent problem-solving skills

20. BS in Human Factors Engineering with 3 years of Experience

Experience in the medical device, health care or similar regulated industry
Superior ability to empathize with people and to understand the human condition
Ability to interface with customers in a highly professional manner
Excellent communication (verbal, written, and formal presentation) and collaboration skills
Ability to analyze and synthesize large quantities of information into usable communications
Ability to work with and across various groups and levels of management within the organization, including other engineering groups, marketing, clinical engineering, and regulatory
Ability to apply user-centered design and usability engineering principles to product research, development, and design
Must be able to demonstrate creativity
Experience with Microsoft Office