Aerospace Human Systems Engineer

As a Systems Engineer, you will work with clients to develop, integrate, and manage the requirements related to Human Systems Integration (HSI) and Human Factors and work with clients to optimize human-centered design solutions within complex systems. Your expertise will contribute to enhancing user experience, safety, and overall system performance.

This position will be located in Houston, TX, and is in person only. We serve a very diverse portfolio of clients; a flexible approach and mindset are key to your success in this role.

Primary responsibilities of this role include:

  • Provide systems engineering leadership, representing multiple skill areas, to both internal and external stakeholders
  • Provide technical expertise and guidance throughout the project lifecycle, from requirements analysis to operational testing
  • Engage with clients to understand their specific needs and goals, and provide consultation on HSI principles and best practices
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather and analyze HSI and Human Factors requirements, ensuring alignment with project objectives and user needs.
  • Translate user needs, ergonomic considerations, and usability requirements into clear and comprehensive technical specifications
  • Evaluate client system requirements and identify opportunities to incorporate human-centered design principles, ensuring the consideration of human factors in the early stages of system development
  • Develop, document, and maintain a structured set of HSI and Human Factors requirements, ensuring traceability, completeness, and compliance with industry standards and regulations
  • Establish a robust requirements management process, including version control, change tracking, and impact analysis
  • Collaborate closely with client teams to prioritize human factors and ergonomic considerations throughout the design and development lifecycle
  • Conduct thorough usability assessments and evaluations to identify potential issues early in development
  • Serve as a bridge between technical teams, designers, and stakeholders, effectively communicating requirements, trade-offs, and design rationale.
  • Coordinate with various stakeholders to ensure HSI and Human Factors requirements are well-understood and integrated into project planning.
  • Plan and conduct usability testing sessions to gather user feedback and assess system performance in real-world scenarios.
  • Analyze usability test results and provide actionable recommendations for improving system usability and user satisfaction.
  • Continuously refine and enhance the requirements management process based on lessons learned and evolving industry standards.
  • Assess potential risks associated with human error within complex systems and propose mitigation strategies to enhance safety and system performance
  • Work closely with engineers, designers, and other stakeholders to integrate human-centered design principles into system development processes, ensuring seamless collaboration and effective implementation of HSI principles
  • Lead and manage projects from conception to completion, ensuring delivery within established timelines and budget
  • Motivates and monitors the progress of work performed by project staff
  • Conducts final inspections and reports for the project
  • Serve as a key resource or point of escalation for systems engineering issues and resolve problems or questions from internal and external sources
  • Conduct feasibility studies, perform risk assessments, and develop mitigation plans to address potential project pitfalls or challenges.
  • Define and communicate design requirements based on user data/insights
  • Develop project plans and communications for clients and C-suite personnel
  • Write engineering technical reports and assessments
  • Evaluate, recommend, and implement procedures for data acquisition, management, and quality control
  • Evaluates, conducts, and recommends methods for data analysis, and monitors and interprets results of analysis
  • Ensure compliance with industry standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements throughout system engineering and integration processes
  • Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging HSI and Human Factors engineering technologies.
  • Connect with current clients and partners throughout their engagement with Sophic and ensure they receive an exceptional experience
  • Effectively communicate with Sophic management and clients
  • Assist with scheduling and coordinating meetings
  • Ensure all records are kept up-to-date and are accurate
  • Maintain consistent communication regarding weekly plan/weekly status
  • Participate in necessary training
  • Maintain rapport with clients and industry contacts to enhance opportunities for additional funding and contracts
  • Plans and participates in meetings, discussion groups, and other types of events to promote project and company visibility
  • Take ownership of your role and function; if you have new ideas and suggestions, we expect to hear them!

Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering or Aerospace Engineering with 3+ years of experience in the aerospace industry
  • Master’s degree in human factors preferred
  • INCOSE Certification desired
  • Experience with NASA design review processes 
  • Knowledge of human rating requirements for NASA and commercial crew vehicles
  • Knowledge of the NASA safety process for pre-flight designs, in-flight operations, and post-flight analysis
  • Familiarity with NASA crew vehicles and training programs/processes designed for such vehicles
  • Other industry experience or knowledge base preferred (e.g., biomedical, energy/oil and gas, and biomedical)
  • Proven experience in systems engineering, requirements management, and human factors engineering.
  • Familiarity with relevant industry standards and regulations related to HSI and Human Factors (Aerospace, FDA, DoD etc)
  • Experience in conducting usability testing and user evaluations is a plus.

Skills

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
  • Some experience in Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively convey technical concepts and interact with diverse stakeholders
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships with management, team members, and clients
  • Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering engineering projects within established timelines and budget constraints
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to mentor and develop junior team members
  • Strong attention to detail and a focus on quality, ensuring that all deliverables meet established standards
  • Big-picture and forward-thinking with the ability to think strategically
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills that can be applied to a given task or goal
  • Project management skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • Self-motivation and self-driven 

Benefits

  • 401 (k)
  • Competitive Salary
  • Dental, Health, and Vision Insurance
  • Opportunity for Advancement
  • Paid Time Off
  • Training and Development