Technical experience. By anyone’s metric, I am an expert in C and I’m fair with C++. I have a few months of recent python experience, both in scripting and in application programming. I’m pretty good at bash. In terms of systems engineering, I’m comfortable writing proposals provided I know what I’m writing about. I have hands-on experience with DOORs and Enterprise Architect as requirements management tools. My background includes experience in requirements, design, development, integration, test, and fielding/support of systems. I am not a hardware person, but if someone else does the hardware/software integration I can run with it. Since the 2010 timeframe I’ve worked on several projects that use an agile design and development framework. I am a certified scrum master. Over the years I’ve often found myself in a role of developing coursework, teaching classes, and publishing technical materials for consumption by other engineers and end users. I can manage and lead teams with good success, but generally prefer to be an individual contributor.
Less Technical expertise. Over the past few years I’ve taken a path that few engineers successfully navigate. Most of us engineers are highly logical, highly intelligent, and in many cases somewhat introverted. We know when we are right, and we make sure others know it. One of my real estate mentors strongly recommended I buy and read a copy of a book named “Emotional Intelligence 2.0”. In this book, there is a premise that states we are born with both an IQ and a personality profile (see Briggs Meyers testing for more information on this), neither of which can be changed. We can come out of our shells (i.e. we can compensate), but we are who we are. The book also states there is a third set of characteristics called our Emotional Intelligence that makes up a significant part of who we are. Strikingly, in numerous studies across industries around the world, people with high emotional intelligence and average IQ are overwhelmingly more successful than people with a high IQ and average (or low in my case) emotional intelligence. That explains a lot. The good news is we can actually increase our emotional intelligence. Once a forbidden word for this engineer (emotional), I have now fully embraced my quest to increase my emotional intelligence. I’m better in my marriage and work relationships, I am a better grandpa, and I am better in my business relationships, including both engineering and real estate. Former co-workers have remarked to me that they have noticed a positive change. In fact, I have given away a dozen or so copies of this Emotional Intelligence 2.0 book to fellow engineers.
Systems Engineering Discussion. The term systems engineer has many meanings. If you were to ask 10 systems engineers what a systems engineer does, you would get 10 different answers. Broadly speaking, systems engineering encompasses all of the things required to make something work. This can start with an idea or concept that someone wants to realize, it can be applied to the maintenance of fielded systems, and anything in between. I have been blessed to work on systems from concept through delivery and long-term support. This is something many do not get the opportunity to do. This entails writing the initial proposal, creating a proof of concept, writing/managing requirements, performing high level design, tracing requirements through to detailed design, creation of the software, testing and validating the system against requirements, fielding the system, and long-term support of the system. Long-term support involves making sure the system works as designed; however it also includes coordination with end users to extend system capabilities, often performed within a construct called change management. I have found that modelling and simulation can be a highly effective tool in fleshing out both external and internal interfaces; this is a forcing function to get both sides on the same page for every interface. I still have a few solid years of engineering in me. My preference would be to do contract engineering, filling roles in various aspects of systems engineering.