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systems engineering

Collaboration that delivers

seamless integration a scalable architecture controlled agile change processes

A rigorous approach to systems engineering delivers the reliability that you can expect from Xentronics in developing an electronic product. We break down complex products and projects with multiple participants into manageable parts and oversee the system integration process to ensure seamless operation across the whole product.

What is systems engineering for electronic product development?

Systems engineering delivers control of every aspect of the product design process, aligning business needs and enterprise processes with engineering execution and project management. We introduce lean systems engineering into every single product, no matter how simple or complex.

Identify user needs

  • Begin with understanding the needs of a product’s users, through human-centred design.
  • Ask questions like “Who is this product for?”, “What are they trying to do?”, “What frustrates them with current solutions?”.
  • Develop clear use cases (“jobs-to-be-done”) to capture detailed step-by-step scenarios of how each class of user will interact with the product.
  • The user needs can then be translated into corresponding technical requirements covering all the supporting engineering disciplines, including embedded systems, electronics and software, industrial design and mechanical engineering.
  • A core process in systems engineering is the production of an overall system architecture that shows all the elements needed in the system to meet the technical requirements.
  • The system architecture will normally show all the subsystems and the interfaces between them, detailing how all the elements will work together seamlessly. The system may extend well beyond the physical product, into the cloud and business systems.
  • The system architecture takes into account business goals, integration with other systems, design for manufacture, the future product roadmap and much more.
  • In testing a product is fit for purpose, both verification (building the product right – benchtop testing) and validation confirms (building the right product – real-world trials) are equally critical before moving into production.
  • A critical factor is traceability – linking the performance and tests of low-level elements directly back to user needs through all system layers.
  • Another key process is unit and integration testing, verifying each system element performs as designed and integrates smoothly before moving onto formal verification and validation (V&V).
  • Other key testing processes include designing for production testing, regulatory compliance, and more – all falling under systems engineering.
  • A key element of systems engineering rigour is to systematically and rigorously manage changes to the product, so that errors are not inadvertently introduced and the product continues to meet user needs.
  • Changes to requirements, architecture, design, code, testing, manufacturing, documentation and every other aspect of the product development process can often require regression testing – retesting already proven system elements, to ensure performance remains the same as before.
  • The controls should extend beyond the design and development phase, into the full product lifecycle including manufacturing, operation, maintenance and eventual product evolution.

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Success factors for systems engineering in product development  

Systems engineering is designed to address all the complexities of smart devices connected to multiple other systems. There are some key principles we advocate at Xentronics:

  • A best practice in systems engineering is test-driven design. Under this approach, tests to prove a system element is fit for purpose are written before or at least while it is designed and developed – not after you have built it, which is more common and typical
  • This approach encourages the developer to think clearly about what the requirements are and how the code must be written in order to pass the test.
  • In software and hardware, a minimal implementation should be tested early and iteratively refined.
  • The challenge of systems integration is routinely underestimated and can inhibit both initial deployment into the field and the evolution of the product to work in multiple contexts and with other systems.
  • A key issue is the integration of the shelf components into your system, given the myriad of technical choices, with continual and rapid advances in technology – standards continue to evolve, and what was compatible yesterday may no longer be today.
  • Designing for interoperability includes aligning with industry standards and protocols, agreeing on clear APIs and interfaces between system components and using modular design principles to develop and test system components.
  • The product development process should also include comprehensive interoperability testing early and consistently to identify integration issues quickly.
  • A best practice for controlling changes to ensure no errors are introduced is configuration management. 
  • Configurable items include code, parameters, hardware designs, specifications, and even documentation.
  • Key functions include version control, release management and configuration audits.
  • Throughout a product’s lifecycle, baseline snapshots of a system’s configuration are recorded, usually at the time of a release, enabling rollback to an earlier configuration if required.

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Why product companies should care about systems engineering

We engage deeply with the owners and key stakeholders of a business to help them fully own and drive the product development process, including systems engineering. Here are some key reasons senior management should pay close attention to and demand a rigorous systems engineering approach:

  • A core purpose of systems engineering is to identify potential issues early, creating an efficient product development process and avoiding late-stage rework.
  • The focus on meeting user needs ensures a greater likelihood of customer satisfaction and commercial success.
  • The risk management basis of systems engineering improves reliability, as well as mitigating against the most damaging failure modes that can impact a company’s reputation and finances.
  • The design and development phase of your product is just the start of your product’s life. Throughout the operational phase, there are many other equally important considerations around manufacturing, distribution, product support and more.
  • Successful product developers optimise operational costs and impacts by addressing these considerations during system engineering.
  • Specific challenges include testing your product during manufacturing, ongoing calibration of test jigs, how to roll out software upgrades as the product evolves and much more.
  • At Xentronics, we advocate a partnership-based approach that spans not just the initial development project but the whole product lifecycle.
  • People at the top of an organisation or product division are the ultimate system leaders, as often they are the only people with a complete picture of a business. A product is just one part of the system they are operating in.
  • Consider adopting international best practices, like the ISO 15288 standard on System Lifecycle Processes. This standard extends your product systems to integrate with enterprise processes, including investment management, resource management, acquisition and supply agreements, and more.
  • Taking a leadership role in the systems engineering process is a way to ensure everyone is aligned in delivering a product that works as intended.

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Collaboration is the foundation of systems engineering

At Xentronics, systems engineering is a foundational process that drives how we collaborate with our clients. Systems engineers typically need to work with every stakeholder that is involved in the system, so better collaboration is vital for project success. Here are some key principles:

  • Effective requirements definition begins by deeply understanding the needs of clients and end-users, and it needs to be a collaborative effort.
  • Better elicitation of user needs comes from knowing the right questions to ask. Electronic product development is a multi-disciplinary effort, and each expert will have questions from their perspective.
  • To avoid overwhelming your user representatives, your team must collaborate to determine powerful questions and an elicitation process that gathers the necessary information.
  • Where different project participants are responsible for different elements of a system, the role of collaboration in systems integration becomes critical.
  • Project managers need to assign clear roles and accountabilities, and to foster a collective sense of responsibility to ensure that the system functions effectively as a whole, not just the individual parts.
  • It’s essential to maintain regular communication regarding the product vision, clarify interfaces, and conduct continuous testing of system integration at the earliest opportunity.
  • Systems engineering isn’t just about processes and models — it works best when teams collaborate continuously across functions.
  • Collaboration ensures that requirements, risks, and design trade-offs are understood by everyone involved, reducing miscommunication and costly rework.
  • By aligning technical decisions with business goals through structured collaboration, systems engineering creates stronger products and faster development cycles.
  • A culture of open collaboration also builds trust with stakeholders, making it easier to manage change and deliver on commitments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

on Systems engineering in product development

Is it best to outsource systems engineering or do it in-house?

Sound systems engineering relies on rigorous processes and tools, so building this capability in-house brings long-term value. However, if these aren’t in place yet, outsourcing can provide the structure and expertise needed to support your project effectively.

While systems engineering requires upfront effort, it consistently reduces costly rework, delays, and failures – saving money across the full product lifecycle. Far from being overhead, it’s an investment in efficiency and reliability.

Yes – a QMS complements systems engineering by providing the governance, audits, and documentation discipline that ensures consistent, compliant results. Together they strengthen both process control and product quality.

Agile accelerates iteration, while systems engineering ensures structure and alignment across the whole product. Used together, they balance speed with the rigour needed for complex product development.

Even with a design in place, systems engineering manages integration, verifies requirements, and addresses risks that can emerge late in development. It ensures your product not only works as designed but succeeds in the real world. Everyone involved in design and development of products is always doing systems engineering – so, it’s important to be aware of it and embrace it, rather than tiptoe around reality.

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Our Capabilities

Learn more about our other capabilities that support our product development services

Project
Management

Systems
Engineering 
Electronic Design

Electronics
Design

Embedded
Systems 

Software
Development

Industrial
Design