Systems engineering is a complex, multilayered field that continues to grow in importance across industries. To help illustrate the significance and complexity of systems engineering, we will discuss what systems engineering is, why it touches all of today’s engineering disciplines, and which skills are needed to become an effective systems engineer.
Systems Engineering Defined
Competing narratives about what systems engineers do are common in the engineering industry, as are varying definitions of what systems engineering actually is. Put simply, systems engineering is a multidisciplinary approach that allows for the realization of successful systems. If that seems broad, it’s because it is. In fact, systems engineering encompasses several areas of engineering expertise, including but not limited to:
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Software
Additionally, systems engineering involves skillsets beyond engineering abilities, such as:
- Project management
- Mathematics
- Interpersonal communication
- Business acumen
Systems engineering begins in early design phases and continues throughout the development of the entire system and all system lifecycle stages. Systems engineering both enables and benefits from model based design, simulation, data interoperability, and full-product life-cycle planning, management, and support.
Why Is Systems Engineering Important?
The importance of systems engineering – and the need for talented systems engineers – continues to grow across every engineering discipline. This is largely due to a widespread increase in digitalization and higher levels of complexity in a typical project.
Several elements and factors go into building a successful system. Products across all domains are increasingly complex systems containing mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems that all interact with each other as one fully integrated system. If one system fails or doesn’t communicate well with others, the product won’t work. This is where systems engineering comes into play.
Systems engineers think holistically about the functionality of the full system and how interactions between the subsystems impact the final result. Practicing systems engineering principles and working with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools are critical for managing today’s increasingly complex projects and delivering highly sophisticated projects.
Skilled systems engineering teams spend time controlling and manage three major concepts:
- Complexity
- Understanding
- Communication
Complexity
All systems and subsystems encompass varying degrees of complexity. Taking an idea from a concept to a useable system can be a complicated, high-level process. Because of the intricacies involved, it would be difficult for one individual to build an entire system on their own. As ideas become more advanced, complexity grows exponentially, which drastically increases the need for cross functional teams.
Systems engineers help manage the intricacies of advanced systems by implementing a framework for identifying and characterizing the interactions between subsystems, managing requirements of various stakeholders, and resolving collisions among the cross-functional teams. While it is impossible to mitigate all challenges relating to system complexity, systems engineers operate a framework for organizing complicated relationships that enables a design/development team to work through that complexity.
Understanding
A lack of understanding between stakeholders can cause problems when buildings systems. Whether the cause is a difference of perspective, speculation, or insufficient knowledge, gaps in understanding can act as a major impediment to a successful project. Systems engineering is important in combating this issue.
Systems engineers strive to understand what kind of data is being created and then use that data to form a coherent representation of the system that all parties involved can see from their perspective. This role of the system engineer supports teams that may have acted solely within one functional area, helping them consider the needs or requirements of other subsystem teams they interact with. It can also help increase understanding between various viewpoints, whether they come from a product assembler, an end-user, a maintenance technician, a recycler, etc.
In addition, systems engineers work to fill in the gaps where there may be confusion. Providing a better sense of understanding is imperative to building a complex system as it facilitates all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards a shared objective.
Communication
Systems engineers work to ensure communication needs are met within their team as well as within systems. Good communication is a key factor in the efficiency and success of any team or project. Conversely, poor communication can set project timelines back or even stall progress entirely. Ambiguity in communication can exist at different levels, from person to person or system to system. Regardless of where the communication breakdown originates, systems engineers work to improve all forms of communication so they can meet the goal of building a successful system.
While complexity, understanding, and communication can act as individual issues, they can also all build off of each other, amplifying all three problematic areas. To optimize systems, engineers must operate with a holistic focus, accounting for how complexity, understanding, and communication impact one another. That’s why systems engineers frequently employ frameworks for troubleshooting, solving, and ultimately mitigating these issues when building complex systems.
What Does it Take to Become a Systems Engineer?
Systems engineering responsibilities will vary job to job, company to company, and industry to industry. In a sense, a systems engineer is the combination of a multi-domain engineer, a product specialist, and a project manager. Because of the nature of the role and its responsibilities, systems engineers generally have a diverse set of skills. While anybody can become a systems engineer if they are willing to put in the time and effort to learn, there are fundamental skillsets that are essential to the role.
General Engineering Experience
Having a background in any engineering discipline is important to becoming a systems engineer. An engineering background – combined with relevant experience – will give an individual the general knowledge of engineering practices and processes they need.
The benefit of engineering experience isn’t just limited to simple know-how. It also helps establish the necessary mindset and systems thinking principles which confer the ability to ask relevant and important questions when working on a project. Great systems engineers not only ask why and how, but they dive deep and get to the bottom of the why and how. Asking the right questions and getting to the root is key to designing and building a robust system.
Software Knowledge/Aptitude
Having a good foundation in software and data is another important skillset. Although not necessarily required, the aptitude and ability for software and data wrangling is helpful. Systems will only become more digital as technology continues to evolve and complexity grows. Even the practices and toolsets used by systems engineers are evolving into more traditional software programming activities.
Furthermore, the complex products of the future will increasingly leverage subsystems that incorporate digital technologies in their operation. Digital skills that address the following areas will be extremely valuable to systems engineers:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Machine learning (ML)
- Virtual reality (VR)
- Augmented reality (AR)
- Data consumption
- Visualization
Organization Skills and Desire to Lead Others
The last area of expertise needed for a successful systems engineer is more of a soft skillset: competency in organization and leadership. Having project management or general technical management experience is beneficial to being a successful systems engineer since the discipline itself involves facilitating teams and systems to work together effectively. Because systems engineers work with many people over the duration of building a system, it’s important to have the ability to effectively communicate and lead others.
Great written and verbal communication skills are important to successfully guide a high functioning team, meet stakeholder needs, and deliver a successful system. Ultimately, systems engineers aren’t only concerned with the interactions of component technical systems, they ensure the interactions between team members are as effective and successful as possible.
Belcan cultivates and values systems engineering expertise, which is why our customers count on us to solve their most difficult engineering challenges. If you’re an aspiring systems engineer, check out our careers page for information on opportunities with Belcan.
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