I've been working in systems engineering for five years now, after having been an RF Development Engineer for nine years. As a System Engineer I've worked on projects across the whole organisation, helping Project Managers and Technical Managers deliver high-performing solutions that really satisfy customer expectations.
I focus on the first stages of the lifecycle, capturing requirements from stakeholders, identifying the most appropriate solutions and designing the system architecture. Continuing advances in technology mean that we're developing systems of ever-increasing complexity. That's why systems thinking in a holistic manner is critical to our success, as are rigorous trade-offs about the choice of technology.
The team of System Engineers is relatively small for the size of our organisation, so our skills are in high demand. Every week, we have a team meeting to share our experiences, help each other out, and identify training opportunities. Progression in this role is assessed against competencies that have been derived from the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), so your career path is clearly laid out.
Having worked in the commercial sector for years, I really appreciate working in an environment where a healthy work/life balance is actively encouraged. Every week, I play badminton, and I lead a kickboxing and yoga class in our on-site gym which is really well equipped. I also enjoy getting involved every year in our annual Christmas show.
I can honestly say that my colleagues are really helpful - we operate as a team and support each other. Everyone here's got a great sense of humour, too, which helps make going into work every day enjoyable.