In this sense, it is not strictly a design role, and many usability engineers have a background in computer science because of this.
[1] Usability engineers sometimes work to shape an interface such that it adheres to accepted operational definitions of user requirements documentation.
For example, the International Organization for Standardization approved definitions (see e.g., ISO 9241 part 11) usability are held by some to be a context, efficiency, and satisfaction with which specific users should be able to perform tasks.
Slips are a very common kind of error involving automatic behaviors (i.e. typos, hitting the wrong menu item).
For instance, if a user is operating a vehicle and does not realize they are in the wrong mode (i.e. reverse), they might step on the gas intending to drive, but instead accelerate into a garage wall or another car.
This toolkit is focused on evaluating the HTML of a website versus a wide range of usability guidelines and includes: This tool is produced by Mind Design Systems is available freely to federal government employees.
The first is the UTE Manager, which helps a tester set up test scenarios (tasks) as well as survey and demographic questions.
The UTE Manager also compiles the test results and produces customized reports and summary data, which can be used as quantitative measures of usability observations and recommendations.
In addition, the UTE Runner tracks the actions of the subject throughout the test including clicks, keystrokes, and scrolling.