Human Behaviour Researcher

​Position Description:

• This role exists to investigate user behaviour with early-stage concept interface design to validate that they are ready to move to the production phase for future client products.

• This involves understanding test protocols and methods for the automotive environment, including naturalistic and virtual test environments.

• Planning testing campaigns to validate performance against known targets including maintaining robust testing equipment and test protocols that can be reliably repeated.

• Management of data collection and analysis methods (including statistical) to allow for the generation of reports about the refinement of interface systems.

• Be familiar with the operational vehicle-based user interfaces that consider key principles taken from Psychology, Human Factors, and cognitive science.

• Working within an automotive field requires consideration of the impact of in-vehicle systems on the driving task and hence designing systems that support a driver to carry out this task is the primary aim.

• This role will work as part of a team including both interaction designers and User interface researchers who will work as a team to develop the future interface systems from the ground up and validated all the way through to real world environments.

Skills Required:

• Batchelors Degree or equivalent experience in Human Computer Interaction, Product Design (with a focus on user interfaces), Psychology, Human Factors / Ergonomics, with a particular interest in understanding user behaviour in an operational environment

• Experience of planning and conducting experimental studies and testing and familiar with the science of human interaction in the vehicle and able to collect, analyse and conclude findings from qualitative and quantitative data to improve and iterate design solutions.

• Strong interpersonal / communication skills, including ability to manage senior stakeholders and communicate at all levels.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Continuous testing carried out on interface concepts.

• Key performance metrics published on a regular basis

• Robust analysis of technical data including Validation of interface proposals against targets / metrics

• Apply a user centred design approach

Experience Required:

• Familiar with a human centred design process

• Experience of delivering technical products as part of a team.

• Understand and able to plan how to collect data to answer detailed research questions

• Have the ability to react quickly to short time scales

• Operate in an efficient and professional manner in a fast paced environment

• To present findings to a wide audience of mixed abilities and be able to amending the content if the message is not received.

• The candidate must be able to present their findings such that they communicate how to create products that customers love for life.

• Have good contacts, or be able to make good contacts in academia in this technical area and be able to guide the department on who the key experts are in industry or academia.

• Driving Licence

Experience Preferred:

• Advanced degree (Masters / PhD) in Human Computer Interaction, Product Design (with a focus on user interfaces), Psychology, Human Factors / Ergonomics Design experience in the automotive or consumer electronics industries

• Familiarity with Agile & Scrum methodologies

• Experience of building and managing multiple relationships in complex stakeholder environments

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• Work as part of an agile team developing concepts for future client vehicles Plan sprints, develop test requirement, and carry out a continual testing plan to assess UI proposals.

• Plan and run large scale validation exercises using a variety of methods appropriate for the activity.

• Validate that client operation principles for user interface design have been met.

• Be involved in research into user behaviour in automotive field including university collaborations and students.

• Work with interaction designers and behaviour specialists to plan testing activities and to Interpret testing outcome to allow for refinement of designs accordingly.

• Have a strong scientific knowledge with an understanding of current research in the scientific area involved in the development of human machine interfaces.