Systems Engineer Course

Lesson 1 • What Is Systems Engineering

Defines SE, its scope, and its distinction from component engineering. Anchors the chapter by establishing shared language for all subsequent topics.

Lesson 2 • The SE Lifecycle Overview

Maps the full system lifecycle from concept to disposal. Provides the structural framework referenced throughout the entire course.

Lesson 3 • Systems Thinking Principles

Introduces holistic reasoning, emergence, and feedback loops. Builds the mental models needed to analyze complex system behavior.

Lesson 4 • Stakeholder Identification and Needs

Covers techniques for identifying stakeholders and eliciting their needs. Connects stakeholder analysis to requirements derivation in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Elicitation Techniques

Presents structured methods for gathering requirements from diverse sources. Directly supports the stakeholder needs work introduced in Chapter 1.

Lesson 2 • Requirements Verification and Validation

Distinguishes verification from validation and applies both to requirements. Ensures requirement sets are correct before design investment begins.

Lesson 3 • Requirements Types and Hierarchy

Distinguishes stakeholder, system, and derived requirements across hierarchy levels. Establishes the structural basis for all requirements activities.

Lesson 4 • Writing Quality Requirements

Teaches the SMART and EARS criteria for writing unambiguous requirements. Poor requirements are the leading cause of project failure; this section addresses that risk.

Lesson 1 • Behavioral Modeling Techniques

Covers dynamic modeling methods including state machines and activity flows. Enables prediction of system behavior under varied operational conditions.

Lesson 2 • Performance and Trade-Space Modeling

Applies parametric and trade-space models to evaluate design alternatives. Directly supports the trade study methods introduced in Chapter 3.

Lesson 3 • Model-Based Systems Engineering Concepts

Introduces MBSE philosophy, benefits, and contrast with document-based SE. Establishes the rationale for model-centric practices used throughout this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Simulation Planning and Execution

Guides students through planning, running, and interpreting engineering simulations. Connects simulation outputs to design decisions and risk reduction.

Lesson 1 • Physical Architecture Development

Maps functional elements to physical components and assemblies. Bridges the gap between what the system must do and how it is built.

Lesson 2 • Architecture Trade Studies

Applies structured trade study methods to select among competing architectures. Connects design decisions to requirements and stakeholder priorities.

Lesson 3 • Functional Architecture Development

Decomposes system functions into a hierarchical functional architecture. Builds directly on the requirements hierarchy established in Chapter 2.

Lesson 4 • Architecture Modeling with SysML

Introduces SysML diagrams for capturing system structure and behavior. Provides a standard modeling language used throughout design and analysis.

Lesson 1 • Risk Assessment and Prioritization

Quantifies risk likelihood and consequence to prioritize mitigation effort. Produces the risk register used throughout the program lifecycle.

Lesson 2 • Risk Management Fundamentals

Defines risk, opportunity, and the SE risk management process. Establishes the conceptual foundation for all risk activities in this chapter.

Lesson 3 • Risk Monitoring and Reporting

Establishes processes for tracking risk status and communicating to stakeholders. Ensures risks are actively managed rather than documented and forgotten.

Lesson 4 • Risk Mitigation and Response Planning

Develops mitigation, contingency, and watch strategies for prioritized risks. Connects risk responses to schedule, cost, and technical baselines.

Lesson 1 • Integration Strategy and Planning

Covers bottom-up, top-down, and incremental integration strategies. Connects integration planning to the physical architecture defined in Chapter 3.

Lesson 2 • Verification Methods

Applies the four verification methods: test, analysis, inspection, and demonstration. Provides criteria for selecting the appropriate method per requirement type.

Lesson 3 • Test Planning and Design

Teaches construction of master test plans and individual test procedures. Ensures every requirement has a corresponding verification method.

Lesson 4 • Test Execution and Anomaly Resolution

Guides students through executing tests, recording data, and resolving anomalies. Builds practical skills for managing test campaigns on real programs.

Lesson 1 • Systems Engineering Management Planning

Covers the structure and content of a Systems Engineering Management Plan. Provides the governance document that directs all SE activities on a program.

Lesson 2 • Technical Performance Measurement

Tracks key technical parameters against planned values to detect emerging risks. Connects TPM data to risk management and corrective action processes.

Lesson 3 • Earned Value and SE Cost Control

Integrates earned value management with SE technical progress assessment. Enables engineers to communicate program health in cost and schedule terms.

Lesson 4 • Technical Reviews and Audits

Defines the purpose, entry criteria, and conduct of lifecycle technical reviews. Reviews are the primary mechanism for authorizing progression between lifecycle phases.

Lesson 1 • Cybersecurity in Systems Engineering

Integrates cybersecurity requirements and threat modeling into the SE process. Addresses the growing need to design secure systems from the architecture stage.

Lesson 2 • Safety and Hazard Analysis

Introduces hazard identification and safety analysis methods including FTA and FMEA. Integrates safety requirements into the design process from the outset.

Lesson 3 • Sustainability and Lifecycle Cost Analysis

Applies lifecycle cost analysis and sustainability criteria to design trade studies. Extends trade study skills from Chapter 3 to long-term ownership considerations.

Lesson 4 • Reliability and Maintainability Engineering

Applies reliability modeling and maintainability analysis to system design. Ensures designed-in dependability is traceable to operational requirements.