By documenting the capabilities that a systems engineer needs at NASA at each performance level, the authors sought to create a way to help develop and identify the future systems engineers of the field. Based on a survey of 21 senior systems engineers at NASA regarding desired behavioral characteristics and capabilities of space systems engineers, the paper (excerpted below) describes the behavioral characteristics in some detail and provides examples. It also provides a fully vetted and accepted list of capabilities required of space systems engineers, and describes seven key concepts that require finesse on the part of the space systems engineer. One example includes the balanced designs that apply the concept of "equal sweat" across interfaces, or finding and omitting gaps and overlaps. By summarizing the collective wisdom of some of NASA’s best technical minds on the subject, including Michael Bay, Bill Gerstenmaier, Jack Knight, Ken Ledbetter, Gentry Lee, Michael Menzel, Brian Muirhead, John Muratore, Bob Ryan, Chris Scolese, and Chris Williams, among many, the authors have provided an invaluable resource for developing systems engineering talent in your organization. Systems engineering at NASA, and throughout the aerospace industry is an art and a science, so anyone with the title “systems engineer” must be able to handle both technical leadership and systems management. In fact, both are critical to maintaining technical integrity throughout the development and operation of space systems. We place high value on technically competent systems engineers with diverse technical skills who are highly effective in leading teams and managing systems. We discussed the personal characteristics of many of NASA’s best systems engineers to help aspiring systems engineers better understand the nature of the profession and what is expected of them. We also described selected aspects of designing aerospace systems to demonstrate the importance of the architecture, design and concept of operations to project success. We believe good systems engineers must understand and embrace the tenets of robust design and be able to participate in designing aerospace missions and systems. For more information on this initiative, please contact Dr. Wiley Larson at wiley.larson@stevens.edu or click link below to review the article in its entirety. SSE is also launching the Space Systems Engineering Webinar Series, with the first Webinar hosted by Dr. Jerry Sellers, on “Understanding Orbits: The System Context for All Space Missions, on Monday, March 16, at noon EST, with an additional session added on March 18, at 1pm, due to the tremendous response. Participants must rsvp to sse@stevens.edu to participate online via Webex. For more information, please contact: Beth DeFares Director of Education EAS 209 Phone: 201.216.5362 Fax: Email: bdefares@stevens.edu |
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