Human Factors Usability Researcher & Evaluator

Torch Technologies

Thank you for your interest in employment with Torch Technologies. We are a 100% employee-owned, Certified Great Place To Work and named Best Places to Work in Huntsville/Madison County, headquartered in Huntsville, AL. Our team provides superior research, development, and engineering services to the Federal Government and Department of War.

As one of the nation's top 100 defense companies, the services we provide directly support the men and women who serve our country. Our corporate mission sums up the pride our employee-owners take in the work we do: "Lighting the Pathway of Freedom". And, as a Certified Evergreen ESOP, we have made the commitment to grow and sustain our company for the next 100 years! Come grow with us!

Torch Technologies, a 100% employee-owned company, is seeking a talented Human Factors Usability Researcher & Evaluator to join our innovative Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) team. This role is both highly collaborative and customer-facing, requiring close engagement with stakeholders to understand system requirements and user needs.

As part of the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) team, you will play a key role in optimizing usability through rigorous, data-driven human factors research. You will identify key system components, select appropriate research methods, define performance metrics, and design/execute human-factors studies.

Your work will focus on generating reliable, quantifiable data that leads to actionable recommendations and measurable system improvements.

Your responsibilities will include

User Needs & Workflows

• Analyze user workflows, tasks, and decision-making processes through detailed personas, journey maps, and other usability methodologies.
• Identify and understand user needs and pain points through in-depth user interviews, heuristic evaluations (analyses), and cognitive task analyses.
• Advocate for the user in design and engineering discussions.

Usability Research & Evaluation

• Use relevant usability metrics and Key-Performance-Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate user interactions with a system/product.
• Design and execute comprehensive usability studies from the development of study plans/scenarios to the in-person participant facilitation of the study.
• Gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to deliver actionable recommendations and digestible insights that will drive design and workflow decisions.

Documentation & Communication

• Produce usability reports, findings, and summaries that will drive practical design recommendations and future system applications.
• Support design reviews and communicate insights to stakeholders, UX designers, and engineers
• Integrate into cross-functional teams to guide and enhance research methodologies and their implementation among colleagues.
• We are looking for a candidate with a strong foundation in human-centered design and a proven track record of conducting impactful user research.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship.
• BA/BS degree in Usability Engineering, Human Factors, Cognitive or Experimental Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Industrial or Systems Engineering, or a related field with a focus on human factors technology. Graduate degree is preferred.
• 3-8 years of experience in Human Factors research.
• Preferably 1.5 years of DoW experience.
• Proficiency in a variety of user experience research methodologies, including usability evaluations, customer interviews, task analysis, heuristic evaluation, and user surveys.
• Excellent communication, written, and interpersonal skills, with a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Willingness to travel approximately 20% of the time to various locations across the U.S.
• This is an on-site position.
• Experience with DoW weapons systems and/or unmanned aircraft systems is a plus.
• To succeed in this role, you should be a proactive and creative individual with a passion for understanding and advocating for the user.
• Proactive and Organized: You have strong project management skills and can clearly communicate research findings through written reports and in-person presentations.
• A Critical Thinker: You are comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, and you possess excellent critical thinking and analysis skills.
• Creative and Driven: You bring creativity and a strong drive to the design research process, constantly seeking innovative ways to improve the user experience.

Security Requirements

• Must possess and be able to maintain a Final Secret Clearance or meet the eligibility requirements to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
• Schedule: M-F; 8-5
• Work Location: Customer- site
• Travel: Yes, 20%
• Relocation Assistance Available: No
• #LI-TS1

Benefits

Torch Technologies is proud to offer a stable and professional work environment, a competitive salary, and an excellent, comprehensive benefit package including: ESOP participation, 401(k) match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, Health Saving Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts, EAP, education assistance, paid time off, and holidays.

Applying to Torch Technologies

Only those candidates invited for an interview will be contacted. Employment at Torch Technologies is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check.