Sr. 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 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

     

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Abbott Vascular provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products for treatment of vascular disease. Our extensive portfolio includes drug-eluting stents, bare metal stents, guide wires, balloon dilatation catheters, imaging catheters and software, vessel closure devices and peripheral stents.

Our location in St. Paul, MN, currently has an opportunity for a Sr. Human Factors Engineer.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Plans and conducts 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.  Responsible for usability initiatives across product/organizational lines, and for training staff members about relevant usability theory, resources, and technology.  Identifies and routinely uses the most effective, cost efficient and best business practices to execute processes; continually evaluates their effectiveness and appropriateness.  Applies advanced usability improvement principles to the evaluation and solution of complex product design problems.  Remains abreast of and consults on usability improvement advancements.  Creates and trains others in the use of the most effective, cost efficient and best usability related processes; continually evaluates their effectiveness and appropriateness.  Exercises independent judgment in the planning, organizing and performing work; monitors performance and reports status to manager.  

Core Job Responsibilities:

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 worldwide Marketing, engineering management, and staff 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.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING

Minimum Education:

Bachelors degree in a related field with a basic understanding of specified functional area, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Minimum Experience / Training Required:

Progressively more responsible work experience with the design of software for complex applications.  

Requires in-depth knowledge and experience of:  human factors as well as cognitive psychology theory and application; the software development process, software technology, and effective methods of working with R&D teams; customers, trends, governmental factors and emerging research and technologies affecting product usability.

A qualified record of implementing new processes to existing human factors and related systems.

Documented record of delivering software engineering information which adds value to management’s decision-making process.

Advanced computer skills including spreadsheet, word processing, database management, and specialized applications.  

Experience working in a broader enterprise/cross-division business unit model preferred.

Ability to work in a highly matrixed and geographically diverse