Principal Human Factors Engineer

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. Youâll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of .

• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO

• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution

• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelorâs degree.

• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.

• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our San Diego, CA (on site) location in our Infectious Disease Division.

What Youâll Work On

If hired in this role, you will plan and conduct customer and competitive research to identify, prioritize/develop new projects, create detailed usability improvement plans/concepts, select/manage external usability design resources, and lead internal and external development resources.  In addition, you will also be responsible for usability initiatives across product/organizational lines, and for training staff members about relevant usability theory, resources, and technology.  Part of this role will also identify and routinely use the most effective, cost efficient and best business practices to execute processes.  In addition, apply advanced usability improvement principles to the evaluation and solution of complex product design problems.  You will also remain abreast of and consult on usability improvement advancements. 

Create (and train others) in the use of the most effective, cost efficient and best usability related processes; continually evaluate their effectiveness and appropriateness. 

• Using knowledge of customer needs, company technology, business plans, as well as market research and financial tools such as ROI, proposes and establishes the business case for usability improvement projects. Communicates improvement plans, concepts and status across Marketing, development staff, and senior management.

• Plans and conducts worldwide customer, competitive, and software industry research to identify and prioritize usability improvement possibilities.

• Creates detailed usability improvement concepts and leads design teams.  Works across product lines, internal departments, and Company sites to create and manage usability improvement plans and usability standards.

• Contributes to the product charter/contract and works with multiple simultaneous development teams to successfully implement usability improvement concepts.  Leads and assists in the management of internal and external development resources, and assists in the development of engineering documents, user manuals, online help, and training materials.

• Provides our international Marketing, engineering management, and staff teams with training and mentoring on usability theory, resources, and technology.

• Creates and refines usability related processes, and trains others in their use.

• Complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, Company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments. 

• Maintains positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as a thought leader in domain of research, while advocating for people who use our products.

• Design and execute studies that address both user behavior and attitudes, using the right methodology for the right questions.

• Generate insights that shape how product teams think about medium and long-term product strategy.

• Work cross-functionally with design, product management, data science, content strategy, engineering, and marketing.

• Provide human factors support to R&D teams for product development.

• Responsible for directing and coordinating all activities necessary to complete human factors engineering projects. Activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Conducting ethnographic user research to identify user needs

  • Translating user needs to requirements and product design concepts

  • Developing prototypes to explore and validate product design concepts

  • Prepare documentation to support development activities including protocols, task analysis, risk assessment, reports, and regulatory submissions.

  • Conducting Formative Usability testing

  • Conducting Summative Validation testing

  • Participate on development program teams to ensure sound human factors principles are considered and implemented.

  • Participate in teams to design solutions to usability issues

  • Create and communicate project plans, tasks and deliverables and manage time to meet project deadlines.

  • Support and provide HFE expertise in preparation for clinical studies and regulatory submissions in accordance with HF standard methodologies.

  • Communicate regularly with internal and external key partners.

  • Apply detailed risk-based process including identifying potential use-related hazards, mitigating those risks, and validating the risk mitigations are effective.

• Understands and is aware of the quality consequences which may occur from the improper performance of their specific job; has awareness of device defects that may occur in their area of responsibility, including product design, verification and validation, manufacturing and testing activities.

• Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal/external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the companyâs policies and practices; build productive internal/external working relationships.

• Carries out duties in compliance with established business policies.

Required Qualifications

• B.A/B.S. in a Human Behavior related field, such as human-computer interaction, psychology, sociology, communication, information science, media studies, computer science, or economics

• 3+ yearsâ experience in applied product research

• 20% international travel

Preferred Qualifications

• FDA Usability Research Experience

• Medical Device Usability Experience

• 5+ Years of experience in a similar role in a medical device company or similar.

* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:  www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

The base pay for this position is $109,300.00 â $218,500.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.