Associate Director - Human Factors Engineering
- Bangalore, Karnataka
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Lead the planning, execution, and integration of Human Factors activities across the full system lifecycle, from concept through to operation and maintenance.
- Establish HF design philosophies and strategies aligned with project and regulatory requirements.
- Act as technical lead on key rail and infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with HF integration strategies and applicable standards (e.g. EN 50126, ISO 9241, RIS-7100, RSSB guidance).
- Experience producing Human Factors Integration Plans, Human Factors Issue Logs and Human Factors Assessment Report and experience of conducting assessments such as Hierarchal Task Analysis.
- Execute HF design development activities, including design reviews, mock-ups, simulators, and structured user feedback studies.
- Lead certification planning and develop compliance strategies for HF-related system elements.
- Provide expert input into RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) assurance activities.
- Translate regulatory and system requirements into clear, verifiable HF design and usability criteria.
- Conduct and review task analyses, HMI design assessments, usability testing, cognitive workload studies, and error management strategies.
- Develop, review, and approve certification-related documentation (e.g., Issue Papers, Equivalent Levels of Safety, Test Plans, Design Reports).
- Oversee planning and execution of HF-related test campaigns, including fabrication, witnessing, and compliance evidence.
- Interface with certification bodies and regulatory stakeholders to demonstrate compliance and resolve design queries.
- Drive human-centred design within multidisciplinary teams, ensuring HF is embedded in technical decisions and design trade-offs.
- Contribute to project proposals, technical scoping, and estimation of HF effort and cost.
- Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of HF work packages, aligned with programme constraints and project milestones.
- Review and sign off technical documentation, HF reports, and deliverables to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Mentor junior engineers and support performance development through project delivery and structured feedback.
- Maintain strong working knowledge of UK and international Human Factors and rail standards, including regulatory frameworks such as CSM-RA and ORR.
- Represent AECOM in client meetings, industry working groups, and technical committees.
- Support the development and continuous improvement of HF methodologies, tools, and guidance within AECOM.
- Identify innovation opportunities and contribute to thought leadership, technical training, and capability building across the Human Factors discipline.
- Master's degree (MSc) in Human Factors, Ergonomics, or a closely related discipline
- A minimum of 10-15 years' professional experience in Human Factors, including at least 5 years in the rail or other regulated, safety-critical environments
- Significant experience applying Human Factors principles to UK and international rail programmes, with expert understanding of relevant standards (e.g., EN 50126, RIS-7100, RSSB guidance)
- Proven technical leadership in the delivery of HF activities, including HMI design, task and workload analysis, error management, human-system integration, and user-centred design
- Strong capability in interpreting and developing engineering specifications and HF compliance documentation
- Highly effective communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders, present to clients, and influence outcomes across disciplines
- Proficiency in English
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HF-related tools
- Holds or working towards Chartered status or equivalent
- Experience in regulatory or consultancy environments (e.g., ORR, RSSB, RAIB)
- UK Rail experience
- Involvement in industry standards groups or technical committees
- Initiative and self-motivation, with the ability to work independently and take ownership of complex tasks
- A relationship builder who can engage confidently and professionally with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders at all levels
- Team focused, with a collaborative approach to delivering shared goals across disciplines and geographies
- Clear and consistent communicator, able to convey technical ideas and project needs effectively in both verbal and written formats
- Sound judgement and practical decision-making, with the ability to evaluate information quickly, identify key issues, and offer robust solutions
- Commitment to quality and attention to detail, ensuring work meets high standards of accuracy and compliance
- A supportive mentor and role model, who contributes to team development and fosters a positive working environment
- Professional integrity, aligned with AECOM's values of inclusion, accountability, and delivering excellence
- With infrastructure investment accelerating worldwide, our services are in great demand, and there's never been a better time to be at AECOM! Join us, and you'll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm - access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.