What is Systems Engineering? (Updated in 2025)

The Interational Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) defines Systems Engineering (SE) as follows:

Systems Engineering is a transdisciplinary and more integrative approach that enables the successful realization, utilization and decommissioning of technical systems using System principles and concepts as well as scientific, technological and management methods.

Or more simply:

Systems engineering is an approach to developing and realizing complex technical systems in large projects.

One of my favorite definitions comes from Dwayne Phillips' book Just enough Systems Engineering and consists of the following two sentences (translated by me):

The Systems Engineer ensures that the customer is satisfied with the product.
The Systems Engineer looks at the whole system and applies some wisdom.

This raises the question: shouldn't this be a matter of course? Unfortunately, the answer is no. This certainly has something to do with the fact that common sense does not scale well.

Why Systems Engineering?

SE is a topic for many stakeholders. The question "Why systems engineering?" can therefore be answered in a uniform way. The answer could be:

• Management Board: Mitigate risk, reduce costs, promote growth
• Project managementMastering complexity, adhering to schedules, using resources efficiently
• Development teams: Obtain clear requirements, coordinate interfaces at an early stage, avoid misunderstandings
• Product managementMeet customer needs, achieve competitive advantages, ensure product quality
• Quality managementGuarantee standards, improve testability, detect errors at an early stage
• Customers/usersAddressing needs in a targeted manner, guaranteeing long-term satisfaction, ensuring reliability and quality
• Suppliers: Maintain clear interfaces and requirements, reduce risks, promote efficient collaboration
• Marketing/Sales: Present products clearly, increase customer satisfaction, communicate unique selling points
• Support/ServiceEnsure maintainability, reduce downtimes, increase customer satisfaction
• Production/manufacturingEnsure production capability, reduce costs, improve quality
• Logistics/PurchasingEnsure supply, increase availability, optimize supply chains
• Compliance/regulatory bodiesEnsure compliance with legal requirements, avoid risks, speed up approvals
• Finances/ControllingCreate cost transparency, increase profitability, plan budgets reliably
• IT/information managementEnsure IT security, improve data exchange, provide integrated solutions

The V-model: symbol of systems engineering

The V-model is widely regarded as the symbolic and methodological heart of systems engineering, as it visualizes the entire development process of complex systems in a simple yet comprehensive way. It illustrates how requirements are systematically transformed into solutions and how test and validation steps can be planned and implemented at an early stage. The V-model thus ideally represents the central philosophy of systems engineering: to develop solutions in a holistic, structured and iterative manner, to implement requirements in a comprehensible manner at all times and to ensure quality aspects at an early stage.

Implement system engineering

So we have decided to practice systems engineering. But how do we put it into practice?

The concrete implementation of SE is based on internationally established standards and proven procedures. In particular, the ISO 15288 and the guidelines of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) provide valuable orientation. INCOSE has even published its own handbook on the subject.

Tools are important for systems engineering. But never forget: "A fool with a tool is still a fool"

The implementation of systems engineering benefits considerably from suitable Tools. These tools support the systematic recording, management and traceability of requirements, facilitate interface management and enable continuous monitoring of system integrity. Modern systems engineering tools also often integrate agile methods, enable the simulation of complex systems and improve collaboration in distributed teams.

The following procedure is recommended for the concrete introduction of SE:

1. Training and sensitization of employees: Building basic skills and understanding of SE.
2. Definition of clear processes and roles: Definition of responsibilities based on ISO 15288 and INCOSE guidelines.
3. Selection and introduction of suitable tools: Consideration of the company's requirements and the complexity of the systems.
4. Carry out pilot projects: SE in smaller, manageable projects and then roll it out on a scaled basis.
5. Continuous improvement: Regular evaluation and adaptation of processes and tools to new findings.

Fake news: Systems engineering is bureaucratic

Systems engineering is particularly practiced where errors are expensive. Originally, SE comes from the aerospace industry, but today it is also associated with aircraft construction, telecommunications systems and many other areas. There are also standards, certifications, qualifications and whatnot. This gives systems engineering the (bad) reputation of being bureaucratic and producing a lot of paper.

Yes, a lot of (digital) paper is sometimes produced. However, this is not an end in itself, but ensures that the systems are secure. When practiced correctly, the documents required for compliance are created at the touch of a button, as a by-product, without much effort.

Finally, systems engineering can also be useful for small projects with little effort. We just have to pick out the cherries.

Hot topics: MBSE, agility and AI

I would like to briefly highlight three topics here, as all interested parties will come across them sooner or later:

• MBSE - Stands for Model Based Systems Engineering. Traditional SE works with documents. MBSE uses models that promise machine readability, automation, fine-grained traceability and mastery of complexity.
• Agility - This means working in small iterations and reacting quickly to changes.
• AI - Stands for artificial intelligence and has the potential to transform all areas of life, not just systems engineering

Have fun reading and browsing!

This blog attempts to answer precisely this question, among others: What actually is systems engineering? There are already a lot of great insights into this, but one thing is clear: you can only really understand SE when you practice it yourself.