Job Title: Human Factors Design EngineerJob DescriptionThe Human Factors Design Engineer applies human-centered principles, methodologies, and technologies to the design of complex humanmachine systems and products, with a focus on Class III implantable neurostimulators and associated components. This individual contributor role leads research, usability validation, and userelated risk analysis to optimize user needs, safety, and overall user experience. The position involves advancing existing technologies and introducing new therapies by delivering R&D systems and initiatives from concept through implementation, while collaborating closely with crossfunctional teams.Responsibilities
- Apply humancentered design principles, methodologies, and technologies to the development of humanmachine systems and medical products, ensuring safe and effective use.
- Develop and implement research methodologies and both qualitative and quantitative analysis plans to test and evaluate new concepts and developmental prototypes across all phases of product development.
- Design and execute usability tests that simulate realworld product use to investigate user needs, explore and refine concepts, support requirements development, identify userelated risks, and conduct formal usability validation with intended users.
- Author human factors and usability validation protocols, including detailed study design, participant tasks, data collection methods, and success criteria.
- Lead and conduct usability validation studies, including study execution, observation of user interactions, data gathering, and adherence to applicable procedures and standards.
- Analyze qualitative and quantitative study data, synthesize findings, and develop clear, evidencebased conclusions and recommendations to inform product design and risk controls.
- Write comprehensive human factors and usability validation reports that document methods, results, risk assessments, and design recommendations for regulatory and internal stakeholders.
- Generate and revise userelated risk analyses (URRA), identifying potential use errors, analyzing their causes and consequences, and proposing mitigations to reduce risk.
- Identify and analyze technological problems or risks related to human factors, perform theoretical investigations, and develop research and analysis plans to guide the direction of new product development.
- Collaborate closely with design engineers and crossfunctional teams to establish system design, operating, and training requirements, ensuring optimized humanmachine interfaces and overall user experience.
- Provide human factors input on design updates and risk controls to support the safe use of implantable neurostimulator devices and associated components.
- Make improvements to processes, systems, or products to enhance performance and usability within the job area, based on indepth human factors analysis.
- Communicate study plans, findings, risk analyses, and design recommendations to internal and external stakeholders, exchanging information on facts, statuses, ideas, and issues to influence decisionmaking.
- Build relationships and consensus across teams to reach agreement on human factors assignments and design decisions that impact user safety and product effectiveness.
- Act as a technical specialist in human factors, delivering and/or managing projects related to new technologies or therapies from design through implementation.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and training to lowerlevel professionals within the job area, sharing human factors expertise and best practices.
- Manage projects or processes as needed, including delegation of work, oversight of deliverables, and review of others work products to ensure quality and compliance.
- Adhere to relevant policies, procedures, and standards while using specialized human factors knowledge and skills in all project activities.
Essential Skills
- Demonstrated expertise in human factors engineering and humancentered design for complex humanmachine systems and products.
- Handson experience conducting human factors usability validation testing, including protocol authorship, study design, study execution, data analysis, and report writing.
- Proven ability to generate and revise userelated risk analyses (URRA), including identification of potential use errors and development of risk mitigations.
- Strong in developing and implementing research methodologies and qualitative and quantitative analysis plans for concept and prototype evaluation.
- Experience designing and executing tests that simulate product use for user needs investigation, concept exploration and refinement, requirements development, userelated risk identification, and formal usability validation.
- Ability to identify and analyze technological problems or risks from a human factors perspective and to perform theoretical human factors investigations.
- Skill in translating human factors findings into system design, operating, and training requirements that optimize humanmachine interfaces and user experience.
- Advanced analytical skills to provide indepth analysis and recommendations on process, system, or product improvements.
- Strong written communication skills for authoring protocols, risk analyses, and detailed human factors and usability validation reports.
- Effective verbal communication and influencing skills for interacting with internal and external customers and vendors and for supporting decisionmaking.
- Ability to work independently under limited supervision, determining and developing approaches to solutions as a seasoned individual contributor.
- Experience coaching, reviewing work, or providing guidance and training to lowerlevel specialists and professionals.
- Targeted 520 years of relevant human factors experience in product development or related fields.
- Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience; or an advanced degree with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience; or a doctoral degree with 0 years of relevant experience.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience supporting Class III implantable neurostimulator devices and associated components, or similar highrisk medical products.
- medical device development, particularly in regulated environments where usability validation and risk analysis are critical.
- Familiarity with crossfunctional collaboration among engineering, quality, clinical, regulatory, and other teams to support safe and effective product use.
- Demonstrated ability to manage projects or processes, including planning, delegation, and review of work products.
- Comfort working on complex problems that require understanding multiple issues, job areas, or specialties, and integrating diverse inputs into human factors solutions.
- Ability to build consensus and foster strong working relationships to support completion of work group objectives.
- Interest in mentoring colleagues and contributing to talent development within the human factors and design engineering community.
Work EnvironmentThis role operates within a technical R&D environment focused on developing and improving advanced medical technologies, including Class III implantable neurostimulators and related components. The position is primarily onsite, with the option to work from home one day per week, generally on Friday, supporting both focused individual work and close collaboration with crossfunctional teams. The work involves frequent interaction with design engineers, internal stakeholders, and external customers or vendors, using specialized tools and methodologies for human factors research, usability testing, and risk analysis. The environment emphasizes adherence to established policies and procedures, high standards of quality and safety, and continuous improvement of processes, systems, and products. Attire is typically professional and appropriate for an officebased technical and engineering setting, with access to lab or testing spaces as required for usability studies and product evaluations. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Minneapolis, MN. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $45.00 - $65.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Minneapolis, MN. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 19, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Minneapolis,MN.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
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