Human Factors Engineer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)

Are you passionate about tackling tough problems to provide real-world impact and drive the future?

Are you interested in applying psychology, human factors/cognitive engineering, or human performance measurement techniques to operational challenges in healthcare and other technical domains?

If you possess a degree in psychology, human systems engineering, human systems integration, computer science, and want to work in the areas of health and human-machine systems, we would love to have you join our team!

JHU/APL works across the U.S. Government, applying the full spectrum of science and engineering to make critical contributions to critical challenges. We partner closely with collaborators in government, academia, and industry to develop innovative science and technology solutions, striving to ensure the health of individuals across the Nation. To that end, the Health and Human-Machine Systems Group is seeking talented individuals to help us design and operationalize advanced and autonomous solutions to revolutionize healthcare and socio-technical systems. Specifically, we are seeking human factors or cognitive systems engineers to help us apply theory and methodologies to support solutions development. You will be joining a hardworking team of engineers and scientists that develop and integrate cutting-edge technologies, data-driven processes, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) principles, and cognitive and behavioral sciences. You will partner with creative thinkers, motivated problem solvers, and life-long learners in support of our country and our warfighters.

As a Human Factors Engineer, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team on projects related to national health, special operations, cyber security, and homeland defense. You will collaborate with other scientists and diverse technical experts to conduct research and systems development while supporting evolutions in cognitive engineering and human-machine partnerships. 

• You will utilize User-Centered Design (UCD), User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI) design skills to rapidly develop prototypes (low and high fidelity) based on proven methodologies to elicit user and technical requirements. 
• You will analyze, assess, and make recommendations regarding human system design and development. This may include requirements analysis, task design/redesign, use case development, functional flow definition, and workload modeling.
• You will collaborate with operators and other experts to capture performance feedback, teaming tactics, human requirements, technical recommendations, and field test results for a variety of complex systems.
• You will lead and participate in multi-organization and multi-disciplinary working groups to review test results and coordinate analyses. This may involve the development of approaches to improve interactions between human operators and various systems.
• You will utilize User-Centered Design (UCD), User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI) design skills to rapidly develop prototypes (low and high fidelity) based on proven methodologies to elicit user and technical requirements. 
• You will support the development and review of systems engineering artifacts related to human factors, system usability, task analysis, vulnerability assessment, and human systems integration.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Possess a Bachelors in psychology, human factors engineering, human systems integration, computer science, or another field relevant to the work as described above. 
• Have 6+ years of relevant experience with demonstrated proficiency in requirements analysis and development, experimental design, human performance measurement, and system evaluation.
• Have experience with User-Centered Design (UCD), User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI) design
• Have excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, and have demonstrated success while working both independently and within a team environment.
• Are able to travel occasionally to attend meetings with our government sponsors and operational stakeholders.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Possess a MS or PhD in psychology, human factors engineering, human systems integration, computer science, or a related technical field.
• Have 8+ years of relevant experience.
• Are experienced in operating or leading a human performance laboratory with physiological measurement capabilities. 
• Have demonstrable experience with health, government, and/or military systems.

Why work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.