Position open until filled

The project: Systems architecture is crucial in delivering system blueprints that enable different engineering disciplines and project management to approach the identified need and deliver to customer requirements by contributing their part in a coordinated way. It provides generative mechanisms upon which model development within each required discipline can happen in an orchestrated fashion with modelling elsewhere, ensuring high degrees of consistency at system level. It also provides the means to make multiple worldviews and stakeholder perspectives understood and categorised in ways that allow for meaningful integration (e.g. Zachman’s framework).

In recognition of its importance, formal approaches to system architecture have been adopted by both open standards organisations (OMG’s TOGAF) and government (US DoD’s DoDAF, MoD’s MODAF etc.). But whilst the architecting toolset is extended with respect to the mechanisms that allow for more advanced and integrated model-based engineering, automated mapping of customer to technical requirements, engineering ‘capabilities’ etc., there is not so much concern as of yet in the space of evaluating architectural constructs, besides ad hoc comparison of candidate architectures at the design stages.

A key task in establishing an evaluation regime successfully is understanding constituent component interconnections and their ‘N2’ complexity, as well as exploring further the ideas of their cohesion and coupling, as formally defined in SE. That is because architecting successful systems is based on a variety of factors that include an early appreciation of the customer need, selection of a suitable delivery model, meaningful engineering model integration and seamless transition from one phase of work to another etc.

For a full description please visit http://www.bristol.ac.uk/eng-systems-centre/idc/vacancies/thales-sys-arch-evaluation.html

How to apply:

Applications should be made online at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply Please select 'Systems Engineering (EngD)' in the Programme Choice section and quote the project title in the Research Details and Funding sections of the form.

Candidate requirements: Candidates should have a minimum of an upper second (2.1) class honours degree (or equivalent) in a numerate subject (e.g. mathematics, engineering, physics), desirably with engineering and /or business experience

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate excellent understanding of typical lifecycles of systems and software development, some understanding of enterprise architecture and be competent in the use of architectural modelling tools such as UML/SysML as a minimum, with an understanding of TOGAF/MODAF a plus. Candidates’ normal background is anticipated to be from within the disciplines of electrical and electronic engineering, software engineering, information systems or computer science, although competent applicants of mathematics, physics or economics background will also be considered. Project management experience would be another plus.

The EngD in Systems is a full-time, four-year doctorate programme, offering the experience of rigorous, leading-edge research within a business context. Approximately 75% of The EngD researchers time is spent working with the Company-Sponsor on the research project, with the remaining time spent on taught courses.

NOTE: Candidates must be willing to undertake pre employment and government security checks.

Funding: See Salary

Contacts: Academic contact: theo.tryfonas<στο>bristol.ac.uk   

Administrative contact: systems-eng<στο>bristol.ac.uk

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