Human Factors Engineer (HFE), Lead

MITRE; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 157,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking a Lead Human Factors Engineer to design user-centered software for Air Force cyber programs. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to frame problems, translate user insights into scalable solutions, and engage sponsors through workshops and reviews.

The role emphasizes leading user research, prototyping interfaces, and performing usability/workload assessments, with on-site work and a Secret clearance requirement.

Qualifications

• Experience with user research methods and usability testing, including interviews, focus groups, testing sessions, requirements gathering.
• Proficiency with design tools such as Figma, Miro, Sketch, Axure RP, Balsamiq, Lucidchart, Adobe XD.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to present to sponsors or leaders.

Responsibilities

• Define Human Systems Integration requirements and analyze mission tasks and workflows.
• Collaborate with agile software teams on UI design and prototyping.
• Lead usability/workload assessments during evaluations and tests.
• Evaluate documentation, training materials, and style guides for usability.
• Leverage AI-assisted design tools to generate and refine interface concepts.

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

Department Summary:

MITRE’s Human-Systems Integration (HSI) and User Experience (UX) department is seeking a Lead Human Factors Engineer (HFE) who is passionate about designing and developing user-centered software solutions to address our sponsors' unique challenges. In this role, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, designers, researchers, and stakeholders to frame complex problems, understand mission needs, and translate user insights into intuitive, scalable, and effective solutions. You will engage directly with sponsors and stakeholders through workshops, design reviews, and iterative feedback sessions to ensure solutions align with user needs and mission objectives.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The individual will be responsible for all aspects of Human Systems Integration for Air Force cyber acquisition program offices. Responsibilities include:

• Human-System Integration requirements definition
• Mission task and workflow analysis
• Collaborating with agile software development teams on user interface design
• Prototyping of user interface designs
• Evaluation of user interfaces for requirements compliance
• Analysis of hardware configurations for human use
• Development of usability and workload testing requirements
• Execution of usability and workload assessments during user evaluations, operational tests and other user assessment events
• Evaluation of documentation to include training materials, style guides and user/maintainer guides
• Evaluation of Air Force Research Laboratory, industry or other FFRDC capabilities to meet the needs of cyber users
• Mission engineering to enhance low Technology Readiness Level capabilities to meet user needs
• Leverage AI-assisted design tools and human-centered methods to generate, evaluate, and refine interface and system design concepts, ensuring solutions align with user needs, usability standards, and safety requirements.
• Elicit, analyze, and translate user, operational, and system requirements into human factors design inputs, ensuring alignment with systems engineering processes, usability goals, and safety-critical performance needs.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, with a proven track record of researching, designing, developing, and prototyping system applications using user-centered design principles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Factors Engineering, Cognitive Engineering, Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, UX Design, UX Research, or a related field.
• Experience with user research methods and usability testing, including facilitating interviews, focus groups, usability testing sessions, requirements gathering, and conducting heuristic assessments.
• Experience in working with design software such as Figma, Miro, Sketch, Axure RP, Balsamiq, Lucidchart, Adobe XD, or similar tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills, coupled with excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to share work findings with government sponsors or senior leaders.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical efforts and technically diverse teams.
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Human Factors Engineering, Cognitive Engineering or Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, UX Design and/or Research, or a related field.
• Experience working autonomously from remote and on-site locations while staying connected with main campuses and collaborating with a specialized technical team.
• Experience collaborating closely with software developers, systems engineers, and technical architects, with sufficient technical fluency to understand system constraints, implementation tradeoffs, and their implications for human factors and design.
• Experience using Codex or similar AI-assisted development tools (e.g. Figma Make, Claude Code) to support the design workflow, rapid prototype concepts, and improve human factors outcomes through iterative, user-centered design.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research design, development, analysis, and presentation.
• Entrepreneurial, innovative spirit with demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, take initiative, and drive new ideas or improvements.
• Coaching or Mentoring experience.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

None

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$156,800 - $196,000 - $235,200 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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