Research Specialist - Human Factors - Personal Protective Equipment

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

Job summary

3M is seeking a Human Factors Engineer to lead usability, ergonomics, and performance studies across respiratory, eye, hearing, head, and fall protection PPE products. You will develop plans, run studies, and translate results into actionable product requirements.

This role emphasizes collaboration with engineers, designers, data scientists, and regulatory teams to drive safe, user-centered innovations. Experience designing and validating methods for comfort, fit, and user acceptance is

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
• Advanced degree in Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics, Kinesiology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Cognitive Science, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Human factors engineering

Ergonomics

Kinesiology

Biomechanics

Psychology

Industrial engineering

Biomedical engineering

Design research

User experience research

Education

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

Advanced degree in Human Factors Engineering, Ergonomics, Kinesiology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Cognitive Science, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Minitab

R

JMP

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.

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

• 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.

Compensation

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.

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.

Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.

At 3M we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.