Research Specialist - Human Factors - Usability & User-Centered Design

3M•Maplewood, MN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Specialist applies human factors psychology, usability, Voice of Customer, perception, cognition, and user-centered design to support innovative personal protective equipment (PPE) and related digital experiences. The role translates user needs into product requirements, interface designs, workflows, validation methods, and evidence-based recommendations. It partners with multidisciplinary teams through iterative product development and explores augmented reality, virtual reality, and multimodal approaches that connect digital information and interaction with physical products. The position follows an on-site working model, requiring work at least four days per week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, Minnesota. Travel may include up to 20% domestic or international travel. Relocation may be authorized. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, completed and verified before starting, in Human Factors Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or Design Research.
Three years of experience conducting usability, user experience, or Voice of Customer research in an industrial, academic, healthcare, consumer product, medical device, software, or safety environment.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate or master's degree in Human Factors Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
Experience developing research protocols and applying qualitative and quantitative experimental methods, surveys, interviews, or observational research.
Experience analyzing research data and communicating user needs and design recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders.
Advanced knowledge of human perception, cognition, decision making, usability, user-centered design, and Voice of Customer research.
Experience supporting PPE, safety products, medical devices, industrial equipment, software, or other complex physical and digital products.
Experience with UI and workflow design, user-requirements gathering, concept generation, iterative testing, and design validation.
Experience conducting formative and summative usability research, including research supporting regulated products.
Proficiency in experimental design, statistical analysis, survey development, data visualization, and eye-tracking or equivalent behavioral research methods.
Experience developing or evaluating augmented reality, virtual reality, multimodal communication, or interactive digital environments.
Education or practical experience in electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, software development, or front-end development.
Strong experimental design, research moderation, scientific writing, data analysis, and technical communication skills.
Ability to convert user insights into intuitive physical and digital experiences.
Independent problem solving combined with effective multidisciplinary collaboration.
Project leadership, stakeholder management, curiosity, and a commitment to worker safety.

Responsibilities

Design and execute qualitative and quantitative human factors, usability, Voice of Customer, and user-needs research for PPE and related digital experiences.
Plan and conduct expert reviews, interviews, surveys, observational studies, concept evaluations, and formative and summative usability studies.
Translate findings into personas, use cases, workflows, user requirements, design requirements, interface concepts, and product recommendations.
Evaluate physical and digital interfaces for comprehension, efficiency, accuracy, learnability, and safe use.
Apply knowledge of perception, cognition, judgment, decision making, and biases to product and experience design.
Use experimental design, statistical analysis, eye tracking, and other appropriate methods to generate reliable evidence for project decisions.
Partner with industrial design, product engineering, software, front-end development, UX/UI design, regulatory, and business teams through iterative development.
Explore augmented reality, virtual reality, and multimodal communication approaches that connect digital information and interaction with physical products.
Comply with corporate policies, procedures, and security standards while performing assigned duties.
Contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.