NASA engineer explains why systems engineering is the best form of engineering

I’m Ali Alqaraghuli, a full time postdoctoral fellow at NASA JPL working on terahertz antennas, electronics, and software.

I make videos to train and inspire the next generation of engineers.

0:00 my systems engineering background
0:54 what is systems engineering?
3:10 systems engineering misconceptions
4:46 space systems example
7:44 identifying bottlenecks in systems
12:38 why you can't major in systems

[Zihao-imlq]

"System engineering is not a jack of all trades, you need an expertise in one field and other things are built upon that." Nice saying!

[CalvinoBear]

I am a mechanical engineer that works in electronics development (RF inverters and amplifiers). This kind of discipline is critically needed to come up with good design approaches for tightly integrated systems. For example, it’s almost impossible to have a truly small or lightweight system without a system architect that is looking at how to design the system electrically, but also consider it mechanically, identifying newer, smaller parts. We don’t have this role at my job (we have systems engineers but they do not do this architecting role sadly), so it turns into a haphazard back and forth during detailed design. Or, Even worse, it becomes a straight out adversarial “that’s not my job” relationship between disciplines which results in bloated, disjointed design. So yes this degree would be very useful.

[violetvoids]

FYI, most Mechatronics Engineering programs, at least the good ones, are effectively Systems Engineering programs.

[ronalerquinigoagurto]

Most real systems out there are multidisciplinary and extremely complex, that is why experts are needed for each system. Randomness is inherent to these systems. Modelling uncertainties is part of experts jobs

[ItsMeTheUser]

This new video style is fantastic!
I have got a lot of things in this video, thank you amazing ALI.

[chadchad]

It's unbelievable how valuable it is to get a peek into your thought process and the way you approach these things.

[finnmanning]

I’m currently doing a double degree in Electrical Engineering (Honours) and Physics. I’d say a masters program in systems engineering would be so valuable for students who have a passion for problem solving and want to go into industry where research is pioneered at the individual level. Without PhD students like yourself going full gas at a massive project like the high speed space Comms we don’t typically get to see the need for multidisciplinary engineers but in most cases it is their individual work which becomes the most valuable as they can conceptualise all aspects of a project at there own heightened level of understanding, and then feed it down the ladder.

[BlocksPlayTV]

We have a masters for systems engineering (in Freiburg Germany) and I am really interested in housing systems in regards to sustainability, electrical energy and thermal optimization as well as cost effectiveness. Which feels like a good step after my electrical engineering bachelor with some modules in mechanics and programming. :) So basically I am already in a systems Engineering program but I must say it has issues, there is a lack of teachers thus we have many changes and unfinished learning materials... It was established in 2023 so it is quite young and still kind of chaotic, I hope it will get better... Thanks for the video, Jonas :)

[dkoshow]

Great video! There’s no videos out there that explains systems this well!

[pinesyeet]

One of the universities in Norway has a masters in systems engineering. Looking at the courses and talking to friends who have finished it, it seems like a REALLY nice addition to their bachelors. The added benefit of the master's is that it works with the industry. Instead of 2 years in uni, you spend 3, but work 50% in industry, and your workplace works with you and the uni to implement the Systems courses into your workday. I'm not sure how common this is globally, but it seems to be a fantastic solution. The 50% work is obviously paid like any engineer. The master's degree in Systems Engineering at this university has been around for quite a while, so I think (again, based on what friends say and the industry which works with the students) that it has both good teachers and facilities, and that it kept relevant without big gaps in what you'd expect from a proper Systems Engineer when they finish.

[TKInternational]

Great knowledge
Clearly I'm gonna consume more content from this channel😊

[Edgar-rslg]

I think this would be an awesome masters I would definitely take. I'm studying engineering physics for many of the reasons you described systems engineering to be important. I think expertise of the fundamental basics is the key to developing anything complicated, which like you said is just a combination of components with basic principles working towards a common goal.

[simbos]

Starting out as an engineer instead of picking one, schools should create a crash course that includes trifecta of engineering fields ex. mechanical electrical physics engineering and botany, medical, and physics and from there specialize in one for a while

[moonnoon]

Hi Ali, I’m an undergraduate Aerospace Systems Engineering student in my 3rd year, and your video has been so helpful. I would appreciate it, as would many others, if you made more videos like this. Also, if you could include real life projects and career related content in the future, that would be awesome. Books and materials would also be appreciated. Thanks Ali.

[transparentworld]

Thank you Dr.Ali keep more videos coming I am inspired by your videos.

[xaviergonzalez]

Nice explanation about system engineering! Oriented completely in control systems. I'm also learning this for automotive applications. Thank you bro!

[fahrankamili]

God damn this is so cool. I envy the breadth of your knowledge!

[shahinsmith]

please dont stop sharing videos this videos are just beyond intresting and being helpful

[samh-smith]

The foundation example is spot On. The thingbabout string foundation is its the most gruelling part of anything to get through

[asielvelasco]

recently, I had a friend who is doing Physics, wanting to take some courses in mechanical engineering. He wanted some sort of general overview of engineering, which is very hard to get, cause what you really have is a lot of courses, in different areas (materials, design, mechanisms, stress, thermo, fluids, machines, electrical...) that complete that general view. Maybe something like "intro to systems engineering" could be what he was looking for. Yet, I recomend him a course in applied mechanics that I had just completed, where we studied a lot of different components and mechanical systems.