Research Specialist – Human Factors – Personal Protective Equipment

3M Company; Maplewood (MN); On-site; USD 146,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

3M Company, based in Maplewood, MN, is seeking an experienced Human Factors/Ergonomics researcher for on-site work in a safety and PPE-focused team. The role emphasizes rigorous usability studies, data-driven design decisions, and cross-functional collaboration with engineers and scientists.

The candidate will lead experiments from concept through commercialization, analyze physiological and biomechanical data, and contribute to IP and standards while ensuring worker safety and product

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree completed and verified prior to start in a relevant field such as Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Design Research or UX Research.
• Three (3) years of experience conducting human-subjects research in an industrial, academic, healthcare, consumer product, medical device, or related environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute human factors, usability, comfort, fit, and performance studies for PPE and safety products.
• Develop research plans, protocols, and experimental methods for lab and field research with end users.
• Conduct formative and summative usability studies and translate findings into actionable product requirements.
• Collect and analyze qualitative, quantitative, biomechanical, physiological, perceptual, and behavioral data.
• Apply statistical analysis and data visualization to communicate insights to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers across disciplines to advance PPE innovations.
• Contribute to IP, publications, and technology roadmaps.

Skills

Human subjects research

Statistical analysis

Data visualization

Python

MATLAB

R

JMP

Minitab

Technical communication

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Ergonomics

Kinesiology

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Factors Engineering / Ergonomics / Biomechanics / Psychology / Industrial Engineering

Advanced degree in Human Factors Engineering / Ergonomics / Biomedical/Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Minitab

R

JMP

Job description

Job Description:

Research & Development | Personal Protective Equipment

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers.

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

• Design and execute human factors, usability, comfort, fit, and performance studies for respiratory, eye, hearing, head, fall protection, and other safety products.
• Develop research plans, protocols, and experimental methods for laboratory and field research with end users.
• Conduct formative and summative usability studies and translate findings into actionable product and design requirements.
• Develop and validate methods supporting product performance, ergonomics, comfort, fit, and user-acceptance claims.
• Collect and analyze qualitative, quantitative, biomechanical, physiological, perceptual, and behavioral data.
• Apply statistical analysis and data visualization to communicate insights, risks, and recommendations to technical and business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with materials scientists, engineers, industrial designers, data scientists, software developers, regulatory specialists, customers, and safety professionals.
• Contribute to intellectual property, publications, standards activities, technical reports, and technology roadmaps.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (completed and verified prior to start) in Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Design Research, User Experience Research
• Three (3) years of experience conducting human-subjects research in an industrial, academic, healthcare, consumer product, medical device, in a private, public, government or military environment

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Advanced degree in Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics, Kinesiology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Cognitive Science, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience designing, executing, and analyzing usability, ergonomics, comfort, fit, or human-performance studies.
• Experience applying statistics to research data and presenting technical conclusions to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience supporting the development of PPE, safety products, medical devices, industrial equipment, or consumer products.
• Expertise in human factors engineering, ergonomics, biomechanics, human performance, perception science, cognitive workload, comfort and fit, or occupational research.
• Experience with formative and summative usability research, use-related risk assessment, and usability validation.
• Experience collecting or analyzing physiological and biomechanical data such as EMG, cardiorespiratory measures, movement or motion-capture data, pressure mapping, or wearable-sensor data.
• Proficiency with analytical tools such as Python, MATLAB, Minitab, R, JMP, or equivalent, including data visualization.
• Experience leading cross-functional research programs from concept through commercialization and contributing to patents, publications, standards, or scientific conferences.
• Strong experimental design, scientific writing, and technical communication skills.
• Customer-focused approach and ability to convert human insights into product opportunities.
• Independent problem solving combined with effective multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Project leadership, stakeholder management, curiosity, and commitment to worker safety.

Work location:

• Work location: This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN.
• Travel: May include up to 20% domestic/international
• Relocation: May be authorized

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well-being

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life — both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.

Pay & Benefits Overview:

Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3M.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/

Applicable to US Applicants Only: The expected compensation range for this position is $145,676 – $178,049, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at https://www.3M.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.

All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.

Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.

Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.

3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.