CV: Systems Engineer, Change & Configuration Engineer

WORK EXPERIENCE

Currently– Oct 2015

Configuration Management Engineer (Senior Engineer)

EUMETSAT contracted by ATG Europe

Providing change and configuration management for Copernicus programme and Sentinel 3 operations.

Providing daily operational support to the Sentinel 3 operation for the control of changes to the operational baselines.

Managing and running change control boards and anomaly resolution boards.

Maintaining the configuration of the development, validation and operational platforms of ground segment and satellites systems.

Coordinating change management between various interface subsystems.

Defining, developing and implementing improvements to the operation.

Training colleagues in the tools and methodologies in Configuration Management.

Space Engineering sector

Sept 2015 – Mar 2005

Configuration Management Control Engineer

European Space Agency (ESA) contracted by Sapienza Consulting Ltd)

Providing configuration management for human space flight missions and experiments for ground, on-orbit systems and payloads for production, integration, and utilisation.

Defining and implementing processes and software tools, to ensure the maintenance, traceability and integrity of systems and subsystems as well as managing the implementation thereof.

Developing, correlating and applying system engineering processes procedures, practices and tools with configuration control and management for real time application on spaceflight programmes, activities and operations.

Interfacing for ESA with International Partners (NASA, JAXA, CSA and ROSCOSMOS) both in situ (face-to-face) and remotely as well as with the Agency’s industrial contractors.

Establishing configuration processes and procedures for assigned divisions.

Space Engineering sector

Jul 2004

Independent test driver and system analyst

Mercedes Benz (short-term contract) www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

Gathered, analysed and reported on the effectiveness of new systems to be integrated into Mercedes Benz vehicles for satellite & traffic navigation. Project required comparing and providing feedback on in-car systems data (software and hardware) implementation, impact and risk assessment for procurement of hardware and software for Mercedes Benz E Class vehicles.

Implemented the project from concept to completion. Now widely used in Mercedes Benz UK.

Automotive Engineering sector

Aug 1999 – Apr 2004

Project Configuration Control Manager (Jan 2001 – Apr 2004)

 Thales Underwater Systems Ltd Cheadle Heath, Cheshire

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/defence/naval-forces/underwater-warfare

Managed the configuration control of c. £200 million Underwater Sonar System (Design, Manufacture and Support) contract across sites in the UK and France

Key Achievements and abilities

Led an international team in implementing configuration management control on the project, implemented and maintained the S2087 configuration control plan.

Responsible for effective change control and problem management 

Implemented and maintained the master aims database. Produced a consolidated project Master Record Index (MRI)

Controlled change of FFF (Fit, Form and Function) and corresponding documentation/database

UK Defence sector

Systems Engineer (Aug 1999 - Jan 2001)

Designed and developed sonar systems. Captured, analysed and managed requirements (customer and derived) through their lifecycle (from capture through to verification requirement and acceptance)

Key Achievements and abilities

Integral member of the recovery team turning a £400 million deficit to £200 million profit on the project using requirements management, controlled changes and configuration management processes.

Managed the challenging expectations of both internal and external customers

Product Lifecycle Management responsibilities, specification, generation and control

Extensive experience in requirements analysis, elucidation and traceability in conjunction with the use of systems engineering processes and tools (Requirement Driven Development (RDD) DOORS etc.) and maintained the configuration thereof.

Project management skills and astute business awareness utilised when project planning and achieving milestones

UK Defence sector

Jan 1995 – Jul 1999

Acoustic Consultant

Sound Research Laboratories Ltd, Wilmslow, Cheshire

http://www.srltsl.com/

Key Achievements and abilities

Project management from concept to completion.

Successfully developed and implemented environmental, building, architectural, industrial, noise induced hearing loss and legal acoustic solutions

Efficiently managed office and field instrumentation (including calibration to the relevant standards)

Competently trained colleagues in the use of professional instrumentation, computer software, hardware and ran the local area network of computers for the office

Some examples of projects worked on Manchester Airport Hotel, Shrewsbury Hospital Audiology Clinic, Glasgow Sherriff Courts, Liverpool Roll on roll off ferry, Manchester Airport new runway, Manchester Museum bridge extension etc

Public and Private sector

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1991-1994

1985-1988

Engineering Acoustics and Vibration

Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), Southampton UK

B. Eng. (Hons)

Pure and Applied Mathematics with Statistics[1]

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

PERSONAL SKILLS

Mother tongue

English (British) native

Languages

UNDERSTANDING

SPEAKING

WRITING

Listening

Reading

Spoken interaction

Spoken production

ENGLISH

EXCELLENT

EXCELLENT

EXCELLENT

EXCELLENT

EXCELLENT

EWE

Good

FAIR

good

good

fair

ASHANTI (TWI)

GOOD-FAIR

POOR

FAIR

FAIR

WEST AFRICAN PATWA

good

good

good

good

fair

Communication skills

Excellent

My communication skills have been used at high level in international negotiations with ESA’s international partners saving potential millions of Euros. These skills have been honed through the years in international environments both professionally (in acoustic consultancy) and socially (sound mixing for live concerts). Over the last few years I’ve also given interactive lectures to international students on communication at the International School of The Hague (http://www.ishthehague.nl/page.cfm?p=607), Rotterdam International School and the various ESA Space Camps

Organisational / managerial skills

Excellent

Former chair the ESTEC Humanitarian Relief Fund. It is a committee of 10 people that manage a voluntary fund that supports various international need causes all over the world with a contributing membership is over 120 people.

Led real-time production teams for sport events validation for presentation on live commonwealth games world TV. 

Head projectionist Southampton University running teams of cinema projectionist and technical maintenance and enhancement of projectors for the running of the university cinema.

Managed shop floor staff in electrical engineering company (Sussex Transformers), fridge freezer accessories (Hago Products Ltd) and quality assurance officer in charge of food production for major supermarket chains (St Ivel Ltd)

Job-related skills

I have acquired a lot of skills in my vast experience that have been transferable across my various professional and personal life. I have used these skills to add value in all my professional positions listed above in work experience.

Implemented and ran the athletes, volunteers, attendees security protocol for the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. Ran and managed (people, systems, software and hardware) the personal identification, badging locations, uniforms and equipment for 40,000 persons.

Some of my transferable skills that were used for the successful outcome of the games for example are listed here and these have been proven in my other professional positions too.

Solutions orientated engineer

Innovative, objective, adaptable

Analytically and technically minded

Impact and Risk awareness

Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal abilities

Presentation, training & facilitation

Commercially aware team player

Competent in scenario modelling simulation, impact and cross-impact analysis

Challenging assumptions, solution search, interrogation, and post implementation monitoring

Leadership

Strategic & Operational Management

Negotiation

Project & Process management

Systems design, implementation, adaptation & management

Volunteer experience

Philanthropic work around the world. Working with homeless, orphans and under- privileged in various countries including UK, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Brazil.

Director of Kids in Need Ghana Madeleine Schmidt Memorial Foundation (NGO)

Traditional Stool Father (Torgbuiga) for the Chief of the Somey Traditional Area Ghana.

Festival Manchester 2003 Technology Support and Response teams

Interests & Hobbies

Sports (squash and badminton). Word & logic games, cinema, chess & good music.

Photography, science, computer and mobile technology.

Cultural anthropology, Engineering, Acoustics (Airborne and Underwater), Infrasound, Mathematics and Medicine. Audio-Visual communication and Sound mixing.

Computer skills

Good computer skills acquired both professionally and personally.

Good command of Dimensions (GDF), Anomaly Processing Tool (APT), Document Management Tool (DMT), Microsoft Office™ tools, Object Oriented programming (Small Talk IV Requirements Driven Development), DOORS, Adobe Suite, DOS, APPLE-MAC and Windows systems.

Good command of computer systems troubleshot, implemented, ran the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games International Broadcast Centre for all the Commonwealth broadcasters present. Maintained the configuration and update of the systems with time sensitive implementations the then bespoke newly released Windows XP and Xbox. This included the verification and validation real time sports events results before being release on live broadcast.

Good understanding of operating systems and hardware building computers.

Driving licence

Full European Driving Licence (UK)

References

Available on request