O*NET-SOC 17-2112.01
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
Design objects, facilities, and environments to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, applying theory, principles, and data regarding the relationship between humans and respective technology. Investigate and analyze characteristics of human behavior and performance as it relates to the use of technology.
From O*NET 30.3
Tasks
From O*NET 30.3, by importance, as O*NET OnLine lists them
Free · O*NET 30.3- Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.Core16393
- Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.Core16378
- Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.Core16396
- Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.Core16387
- Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.Core16381
- Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.Core16379
- Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.Core16383
- Provide technical support to clients through activities, such as rearranging workplace fixtures to reduce physical hazards or discomfort or modifying task sequences to reduce cycle time.Core16380
- Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.Core16392
- Establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.Core16386
- Integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware.Core16385
- Review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.Core16374
- Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance.Core16397
- Write, review, or comment on documents, such as proposals, test plans, or procedures.Core16372
- Train users in task techniques or ergonomic principles.Core16373
- Conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.Core16391
- Provide human factors technical expertise on topics, such as advanced user-interface technology development or the role of human users in automated or autonomous sub-systems in advanced vehicle systems.Core16375
- Develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.Core16388
- Develop or implement research methodologies or statistical analysis plans to test and evaluate developmental prototypes used in new products or processes, such as cockpit designs, user workstations, or computerized human models.Core16389
- Estimate time or resource requirements for ergonomic or human factors research or development projects.Core16377
- Design cognitive aids, such as procedural storyboards or decision support systems.Core16390
- Analyze complex systems to determine potential for further development, production, interoperability, compatibility, or usefulness in a particular area, such as aviation.Core16395
- Investigate theoretical or conceptual issues, such as the human design considerations of lunar landers or habitats.Core16376
- Operate testing equipment, such as heat stress meters, octave band analyzers, motion analysis equipment, inclinometers, light meters, thermoanemometers, sling psychrometers, or colorimetric detection tubes.Core16384
- Perform statistical analyses, such as social network pattern analysis, network modeling, discrete event simulation, agent-based modeling, statistical natural language processing, computational sociology, mathematical optimization, or systems dynamics.Core16382
- Apply modeling or quantitative analysis to forecast events, such as human decisions or behaviors, the structure or processes of organizations, or the attitudes or actions of human groups.Core16394
Technology Skills
From O*NET 30.3, 62 examples in 22 categories, 32 Hot Technology
Free · O*NET 30.3Document management software
- Adobe AcrobatHot Technology
Graphics or photo imaging software
- Adobe Creative Cloud softwareHot Technology
- Adobe IllustratorHot Technology
- Adobe PhotoshopHot Technology
Web page creation and editing software
- Adobe Dreamweaver
Desktop publishing software
- Adobe InDesignHot Technology
Analytical or scientific software
- AEMC DataView
- Bit Debris Solutions Usability Activity Log
- Dartfish ProSuite
- Data Translation quickDAQ
- IBM SPSS StatisticsHot Technology
- Mangold INTERACT
- Mangold LogSquare
- Mangold Soundalyzer
- MathWorks Simulink
- Noldus Information Technology FaceReader
- Noldus Information Technology The Observer XT
- Noldus Information Technology uLog Pro
- Ovo Studios Ovo Logger
- SASHot Technology
- Simulation software
- Statistical software
- The MathWorks MATLABHot Technology
- Thought Technology BioGraph Infiniti
- Triangle Research Collaborative Observational Coding System OCS Tools
Web platform development software
- AJAXHot Technology
- Cascading style sheets CSSHot Technology
- Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
- Hypertext markup language HTMLHot Technology
- JavaScriptHot Technology
- JavaScript Object Notation JSONHot Technology
Graphical user interface development software
- Altia Design
- Graphical user interface GUI design software
- Seeing Machines faceLAB
Internet browser software
- Apple SafariHot Technology
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Mozilla FirefoxHot Technology
Content workflow software
- Atlassian JIRAHot Technology
Computer aided design CAD software
- Autodesk AutoCADHot Technology
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorksHot Technology
Object or component oriented development software
- C++Hot Technology
- jQueryHot Technology
- Oracle JavaHot Technology
- PythonHot Technology
- RHot Technology
Program testing software
- Debugging software
- Regression testing software
- TechSmith Morae
- Usability testing software
- User interface design software
Enterprise application integration software
- Extensible markup language XMLHot Technology
Operating system software
- LinuxHot Technology
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft ExcelHot TechnologyIn Demand
Office suite software
- Microsoft Office softwareHot TechnologyIn Demand
Electronic mail software
- Microsoft OutlookHot Technology
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPointHot TechnologyIn Demand
Process mapping and design software
- Microsoft VisioHot Technology
Development environment software
- Microsoft Visual BasicHot Technology
- National Instruments LabVIEW
Word processing software
- Microsoft WordHot Technology
Video creation and editing software
- TechSmith Camtasia
Detailed Work Activities
From O*NET 30.3, under their work activities; open one for the AI skills Workforce Automation maps to it
Free · O*NET 30.3Getting Information
Research human performance or health factors related to engineering or design activities.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Investigate safety of work environment.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Assess product or process usefulness.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Analyzing Data or Information
Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Estimate time requirements for development or production projects.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Thinking Creatively
Devise research or testing protocols.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Determine operational criteria or specifications.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Create models of engineering designs or methods.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Develop technical methods or processes.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Documenting/Recording Information
Prepare proposal documents.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Prepare procedural documents.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Document design or operational test results.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Training and Teaching Others
Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Advise others on health and safety issues.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openWFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Job Zone
From O*NET 30.3
Free · O*NET 30.3Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Workforce Automation analysis, not part of the source
WFA coverage: AI skills for this job
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts openPilot mapping: these skill links come from our seed list and haven’t been reviewed yet. Expect them to change as each one is checked.
Equivalents
NICE work roles, with their DCWF equivalents
Mapped to this job by the ETO-CSET NICE/O*NET crosswalk (2024); roles from NICE Framework Components v2.2.0, DCWF equivalents from DoD DCWF Tool v5.3 (2026-09-25)
Free · NICE Framework Components v2.2.0 and DoD DCWF Tool v5.3 (2026-09-25)No NICE work role maps to this job.