Company Description
Make healthcare safer. Make innovation usable. Make an impact.
Design Science, a BlueRidge Life Sciences company, is seeking a Principal Human Factors Engineer to join our Evanston, (Chicagoland) team a group of missiondriven researchers shaping how people interact with medical devices used around the world.
This role is built for an experienced HFE professional who thrives in consulting, leads with confidence, and elevates the quality of every study, deliverable, and client interaction.
About Design Science
We’re a human factors research firm with offices in Philadelphia, Evanston, and Munich, partnering with the world’s leading medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Our work directly influences safer, more intuitive therapies and ultimately, better outcomes for patients.
At our Evanston office, you’ll find:
- A tightknit, intellectually curious team
- A vibrant collegetown environment
- A culture built on integrity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific rigor
What You’ll Do
As a Principal Human Factors Engineer, you will lead complex research programs, guide clients through regulatory expectations, and mentor the next generation of HF practitioners. You’ll work across a wide range of medical products and contribute to both strategic and handson project execution.
You will:
- Design and lead usability studies (formative, summative, HF validation)
- Moderate sessions with expertlevel skill and consistency
- Plan and execute data collection and analysis with scientific rigor
- Deliver highquality reports that meet FDA and global regulatory expectations
- Lead client interactions, including presenting study results and advising on HF strategy
- Develop usability file inputs such as task analyses, user interface requirements, and userelated risk analyses
- Direct project teams to ensure quality, efficiency, and strong crossfunctional collaboration
- Mentor Associate Engineers/Researchers and contribute to internal process improvements
- Potentially manage direct reports and support team development
What You Bring
- MS/MA in Human Factors, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field with at least 5 years of industry experience in human factors for healthcare or another safetycritical domain
- or BS/BA with at least 8 years of relevant industry experience
- Minimum 2 years of experience with medical devices and/or combination products
- Minimum 1 year of experience working with FDA expectations for medical devices
- Demonstrated ability to deploy diverse research methods (field research, usability testing, ergonomics, expert review, etc.)
- Proven track record of producing clientready reports and optimizing data analysis workflows
- Expertlevel moderation skills for usability testing
- Advanced proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Ability to work fulltime in our Evanston, IL or Philadelphia, PA office
- Ability to travel 30% (domestic and international)
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and comfort managing multiple concurrent projects
- Ability to pass a background check
Bonus Points For
- Experience creating usability file deliverables (application specification, UIRs, URRA)
- Deep understanding of FDA HF regulatory guidance
- Familiarity with industry standards (AAMI/ANSI HE75, IEC 623661/623662, ISO 14971)
- Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, design, psychology, and related fields
What We Offer
- Fulltime, salaried position
- Competitive compensation
- Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- 401(k) with company match
- Bonus eligibility
- Generous PTO and paid holidays
- Flexible work environment
- Teambuilding events, great coffee, and genuinely great coworkers
- A missiondriven culture where your work directly improves patient safety
How to Apply
Submit your resume and cover letter describing your interest in medical devices and human factors research, and why you’re an excellent fit for this role.
Learn more at www.dscience.com or follow us @designscience
EOE
Minorities, females, individuals with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
Design Science celebrates a diverse and inclusive work culture. We embrace opinions and ideas from a broad cross section of cultures and backgrounds to build a strong organizational foundation.
