Principal Engineer - Human Factors - Indianola, PA

Bayer AG; Indianola (PA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

Bayer is seeking a Senior Human Factors/Usability Engineer to guide cross-functional device development teams in creating user-centric medical devices and drug-device combinations. The role interfaces with patients, product leadership, clinical, and engineering teams to enhance safety and usability.

The successful candidate will integrate HF/UE principles across Radiology and Pharma portfolios, ensure regulatory compliance (FDA, EU MDR, ISO standards) and contribute to Bayer’s business strategy.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, ergonomics, psychology, human factors, biomedical engineering, or related field with HF/UE experience.
• Experience integrating use-related risk analysis into HF/UE planning, validation strategy, and product development for regulated devices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the HF/UE strategy for Bayer’s Radiology and Pharma products, ensuring compliance with procedures and standards.
• Align HF/UE strategy with regulatory strategies and marketing objectives; manage stakeholder interactions and represent HF/UE in regulatory consultations.
• Plan usability evaluations across the development lifecycle and lead or oversee their execution (exploratory, formative, summative, post-market).
• Lead and facilitate URRA, UFMEA, and other use-error analysis to inform critical task identification and HF validation strategy.

Skills

HF/UE expertise

Regulatory liaison

English communication

User-centric design

Education

Master’s degree in engineering sciences/related field

Bachelor’s degree + 10+ years HF/UE experience

Job description

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At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

PURPOSE

We are seeking a highly experienced Human Factors / Usability Engineer to guide cross-functional device development teams in navigating the field of user-centric development. This pivotal role will be at the interface between patients/users, product leadership, commercial, medical/clinical, and engineering teams, ensuring that medical devices and drug-device combination products are designed with the user in mind to enhance safety, effectiveness, and the user experience.

The Principal Human Factors / Usability Engineer will integrate Human Factors / Usability Engineering (HF/UE) principles into the design and development of products within Bayer’s global Radiology and Pharma portfolios. This role will leverage user insights to optimize usability, ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations, and maximize contributions to Bayer’s business strategy.

Success in this role requires a deep understanding of user-centric development principles, industry best practices, and regulatory expectations (including those of US FDA, EMA/NBs, UK MHRA, and China NMPA). Effective communication with stakeholders and a commitment to sharing knowledge for mutual growth are essential.

You will join a global team of passionate Human Factors / Usability Engineers as a senior individual contributor within Bayer Radiology R&D, based in Indianola (Pittsburgh, PA).

Your Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the HF/UE strategy for Bayer’s Radiology and Pharma products, ensuring compliance with internal procedures and industry standards;


• Align HF/UE strategy with regulatory strategies and marketing objectives; manage stakeholder interactions and represent HF/UE in consultations with regulatory bodies;


• Plan usability evaluations across the development lifecycle and either lead or oversee their execution, including exploratory, formative, summative, and post-market evaluations performed internally or supported by external HF/UE service providers;


• Lead and facilitate use-related risk analysis activities, such as Use-Related Risk Analysis (URRA), Use Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (UFMEA), and other structured use-error analysis methods, to inform critical task identification, formative study planning, HF validation strategy, and broader project decisions;


• Contribute to device development activities, including requirements engineering, user interface design, and verification & validation (V&V) planning and execution;


• Document HF/UE results for design history files and submission dossiers, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness;


• Stay ahead of industry trends and support continuous learning and improvement within the HF/UE team;


• Advocate for a user-centric mindset across relevant areas of the Bayer organization.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer is seeing an incumbent who possesses the following:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in engineering sciences, ergonomics, psychology, human factors, biomedical engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant HF/UE experience; or Bachelor’s degree in a related field with a minimum of 10 years of relevant HF/UE experience. Experience should include HF/UE activities conducted in accordance with IEC 62366-1 and FDA HF/UE guidance;


• Demonstrated experience integrating use-related risk analysis into HF/UE planning, validation strategy, and product development decision-making for regulated medical devices or combination products;


• Proven experience in HF/UE submissions as well as in successful interactions with regulatory bodies, especially with the US FDA;


• Strong background in user-centric design, requirements engineering, design controls (CFR 820.30, ISO 13485), risk management (ISO 14971), and applicable global regulatory expectations, including EU MDR;


• Patient/user advocacy with a solution-oriented mindset;


• Excellent lateral leadership and communication skills in English;


• Ability to thrive in a dynamic global matrix environment, embracing change and decision-making.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $117,760.00 to $176,640.00. Additional compensation may include a bonus or incentive compensation (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc..

This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant’s location, market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

This posting will be available for application until at least 10-5-26.

YOUR APPLICATION

To all recruitment agencies: Bayer does not accept unsolicited third party resumes.

Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Notice for U.S. Visitors: All information on this site is subject to compliance with local rule and regulations as they may vary from time to time and across different geographies, including, without limitation, U.S. Executive Orders.

Bayer is an E-Verify Employer.

Location:

United States : Pennsylvania : Indianola