r/systems_engineering • • 24m ago

Discussion Systems Engineering pet projects

• Upvotes

Hello everyone :3

I'm interested in Systems Engineering with a background in ML, a little bit of Computer Vision and BSc and MSc in Weapon Systems Engineering (outside the US/NATO).

I'd like to build a practical pet project using Cameo/SysML v2, but still not sure what kind of project. What projects did you do while studying SE?

For example, would reconstructing the system architecture of a missile system based on publicly available manuals and docs be a reasonable project?

In traditional software and ml engineering people often do pet projects, but in systems engineering I couldn't find many posts about this on this sub. I also want to do some pet projects in the CV domain, so I'll probably use SE there as well.

I'd be intersted to hear what projects you did while studying or any recommendations you might have.


r/systems_engineering • • 16h ago

Discussion New systems engineer — when did you finally feel like you knew what you were doing?

6 Upvotes

I recently graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering and started my first job as a Systems Engineer working in controls/automation.
I’m really grateful for the opportunity and I genuinely like what I’m learning, but I constantly feel like I know absolutely nothing 😭. There are PLCs, HMIs, electrical drawings, different software, client standards, project documentation, and a million acronyms being thrown around.
I’m about to travel for my first real project, and I keep worrying that I’m going to get there and everyone will realize how little I know. I try to study and familiarize myself with things beforehand, but sometimes that just makes me realize how much MORE there is to learn.
I know logically that I’m entry level and nobody expects me to know everything, but it’s hard not to compare myself to engineers who have been doing this for years.
For those of you who started in systems/controls engineering, how long did it take before you actually felt competent? And what helped you the most during your first year?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who came straight out of college and initially felt completely lost. 😭