Clients

BAE Systems Maritime Submarines - Barrow-in-Furness

Safety Analysis within Engineering Team:

I have responsibility for the system safety analysis for the vehicle control system for the developing Dreadnought nuclear submarine (the replacement of the Vanguard class nuclear deterrent). I work within the engineering team with engineers and operators to ensure safety requirements are embedded in the design at an early stage, covering hardware, software and procedural aspects and the development of safety arguments. This leads to supplier assessments and audits on the ability to meet the requirements and the subsequent documentation of evidence.

Safety Analysis Team Lead:

I was the lead for the safety analysis team developing the assessments to support an overall safety argument. I developed processes and plans that determined which assessments were done and when, with an emphasis on how they are embedded into the overall engineering lifecycle. I was responsible for coordinating all outputs of the team with the design review schedule.

Comsoft – Karlsruhe Germany

Part time: I developed safety argumentation for several surveillance products that will be used by the client when tendering. The work established a baseline argument using Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA), Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA) and System Safety Assessment (SSA) for each product. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) were used within the assessments.

Selex System Integration – Welwyn

I had responsibility for safety assessments and produced safety cases relating to surveillance infrastructure at regional airports. Such work included Primary & Secondary Radar replacements and new Wide Area and Local Area Multilateration Systems (WAM & LAM). The multilateration systems are relatively new in the UK and so great emphasis was placed on the safety argumentation by the safety regulator.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) – Brussels

Part time: I provided safety consultancy services to aid NATS in their implementation of Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) with respect to Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) accommodation. I attended European-wide consultation meetings aimed at establishing a common European-wide approach to CPDLC services.

Eurocontrol, Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre

I had responsibility for the implementation of safety assessments on all large projects. This included contract development and supplier assessment, initial hazard/ risk analyses to establishing safety objectives and requirements and then either performing assessments, writing safety cases, or overseeing suppliers. All lifecycle phases were covered from feasibility to warranty periods.
I liaised with operational and engineering staff and suppliers throughout projects and regularly performed supplier assurance on site. I worked on several projects simultaneously providing support for several project managers. The work included leading supplier audits to assessing progress on compliance issues (contractual and standards related), documenting the results and following up actions. It also included guidance to suppliers as required. Equally I support audits performed on the division.
Projects included the European Aeronautical Information Services Database (EAD), Controller Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC), a flight data processing system, monitoring systems, fallback systems, front-end processors, voice systems and user displays. I ensured management plans were developed to coordinate with the various stakeholders. I also participate on behalf of Maastricht in safety cases for international developments, attending related meetings.
I helped develop a method to safety-assess all changes to existing operational equipment to ensure that ongoing fixes and maintenance do not degrade system integrity; thus going beyond warranty to operational phases.
I used the safety methodology of Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA), Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA), System Safety Assessment (SSA) and System Safety Case (SSC). The primary analysis techniques used within these assessments were Hazard Identification (HAZID), Reliability Block Diagrams (RBD), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Common-Cause Analysis (CCA), Event Tree Analysis (ETA) and Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA). Other techniques (such as Reliability Prediction, Zonal Analysis and Error Tracking) were used when appropriate. I used Goal Structuring Notation (GSN) for safety case development.
The aim of all assessments was to demonstrate that deliverables are safe and reliable to be transitioned to operational use in terms of equipment, people and procedures; ensuring that the end system is both verified and validated. All work was performed under regulatory oversight from representatives of the nation states with whom I liaised and presented safety cases. I have a good working knowledge of the regulatory framework and the associated regulations, standards and guidelines.
I contributed to the development of Maastricht’s safety management system and was involved in the production of Maastricht’s first Unit Safety Case which uses an Integrated Risk Picture (IRP) as a fundamental part.
I also provided project safety management training and high level awareness sessions to operational and engineering staff, in conjunction with the Eurocontrol training team based in Luxembourg.

Comsoft – Karlsruhe Germany

I provided consultancy on Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA) work for a front-end communications system for deployment with the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) at Swanwick.  The work involved advising on necessary updates to fault trees and safety requirements development.

Thales Underwater Systems – Cheadle Heath

I worked on the human factors team developing the Sonar 2076 operator interface for Swiftsure and Trafalgar class nuclear submarines. The work raged from capturing user and engineering requirements to planning the verification, validation and safety analyses.
I had responsibility for developing requirements and specifications from user discussions as an input to the software development, for verifying the software against the requirements and for coordinating validation of the system as it developed for usability, workload, operability and safety issues.

BAE Systems – Rochester

I worked on a pre-contract bid team tendering for a Polish Mi-24 helicopter avionics upgrade. I had responsibility for developing the initial controls and displays functionality, for producing a design specification integrated with existing equipment, for producing a Project Safety Plan and for instigating and coordinating the initial safety, reliability, availability and maintainability assessments.

National Air Traffic Services – West Drayton

I worked on several projects simultaneously:

Implementation of the World Geodetic System:

Responsible for performing detailed impact and risk assessments on the implementation of the World Geodetic System at the National Air Traffic Services and for developing an independent safety case for the project.

Development Of A Web Based Information Distribution System:

The project comprised the development of a web browser/server-based information retrieval system for use by air traffic controllers when communicating with pilots in ‘semi-emergency’ situations (e.g. with a confused/lost General Aviation pilot).

Responsible for:

· defining options, assessing feasibility/ operability and recommending solutions accounting for user needs and implementation practicality;

· assessing and developing the system, assurance and safety requirements (using the DOORS requirements tool), to ensure acceptable verification and validation;

· assessing the project risk, the system integrity/ reliability/ availability/ maintainability and assessing the system safety cases;

· auditing suppliers on adherence to requirements and good systems engineering, safety and software practice;

· providing consultancy to the project manager on all technical and safety matters during the tender phase; and for

Development of an Electronic Data Display System:

The project comprised the development of an information awareness system for air traffic controllers, based on bespoke information processing equipment.

Responsible for ensuring the overall system functionality by developing and tracking requirements against the ongoing design and validating the end system by assessing the fitness for purpose of each subsystem from a safety and systems perspective, thus enabling satisfactory completion of Site & Factory Acceptance Tests.

Withdrawal of a Primary Surveillance RADAR:

Responsible for coordinating all work performed for the safe withdrawal from service of a primary surveillance RADAR. All work was covered; including impact assessment, risk & safety case development, operational withdrawal and groundwork.

BAE Systems – Warton & Brough

For many years, I’ve worked with Itaka on complex matters. Once we defined our objectives, we were able to build a long-term plan that has helped them get back on track and achieve their goals.

Cockpit Team, Brough (LIF Hawk):

Worked on the cockpit displays for the Lead-In Fighter Hawk aircraft. Work involved pilot liaison to capture user objectives to develop engineering requirements (for rapid prototyping) and user requirements (for validation assessments). The work iterated around a prototyping simulator until an acceptable design was defined.

As part of the prototyping I used human factors and safety techniques to develop human-machine interface philosophies and to develop task and workload exercises.

The equipment included a Head-Up Display, Multifunction Head-Down Displays and associated hardware and software controls.

Mission Computer Team, Brough (LIF Hawk):

Involved in the assessment of a notch-combiner; used to increase the perceived brightness of the cockpit Head-Up Display. Responsible for liaising with the supplier on notch-combiner development, for calculating the increase in brightness required and assessing the abilities of the notch-combiners proposed.

Weapon System Integration Team, Warton (Tornado):

Responsible for producing the Customer Requirements document, the System Level Requirements document and the Weapon System Specification for the initial work package for the Tornado Mid-Life Update within limited time-scales and to strict budget, in close liaison with a Ministry of Defence representative. Comprehensive verification criteria were specified for all requirements and validation criteria defined for final acceptance.

Responsible for planning a detailed ‘Design Route’ from which all aspects of the development would progress (requirements, design, development, integration, testing and validation). Methods and tools to be used and the documentation to be produced were defined, with full negotiations with the Ministry of Defence. The design tools CORE and EPOS were used.

Displays & Controls Team, Warton (Eurofighter Typhoon):

Worked in a multinational team designing the software systems relating to the cockpit displays and controls on the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Involved in designing new, and modifying existing, software functions in association with high-level cockpit design documentation for incorporation into a Functional Requirements Document. My principal responsibilities involved the RADAR, FLIR, Navigation and Attack Modes within the Displays and Controls Subsystem and its interfaces; with responsibility for design safety.

The main equipment included a Head-Up Display, Multifunction Head-Down Displays and a variety of hardware and software configured controls. The design tool CORE was used and stringent Change Control procedures were followed within strict time-scales.

Hexa approached me about a very intricate issue. Once we analyzed the situation, we were able to put a plan together and achieve amazing results. If you want to learn more about the benefits of my services, get in touch.

CSE International

Consultant Safety Engineer:

Worked on a variety of safety and risk critical projects involving electronic and computer controlled systems. Performed safety, integrity, risk, reliability, availability and maintainability assessments of complex systems. All work included coordination with end users and developers. The systems included:

· Rail: Channel Tunnel, Hong Kong Underground and Danish Light Rail (mimic panels, emergency communication systems and data transmission networks);

· Automotive industry (vehicle based electronic systems such as anti-lock braking and immobilizers);

Oil, gas and nuclear industry (distributed control systems for power stations and emergency control systems for oil and gas rigs).

Safety, integrity, risk, reliability, availability and maintainability assessments were performed using analysis techniques such as Functional Analysis, Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Common-Cause/Mode Analysis (CCA/CMA), Event Sequence Diagrams, Zonal Analysis, Functional Tests, Formal Design Reviews and HSE PES and safety standards checklists.

Experience in contractual assessments including requirements capture, requirement analysis and bid assessment in close liaison with clients. Involved in on-site software management and configuration control of client’s systems. Performed baseline and on-going auditing and provided consultancy on correct implementation of safety within project lifecycles.

As a consultant to a UK Government led automotive consortium, helped develop the Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA) Development Guidelines for Vehicle Based Software; in particular the sub report on Integrity Classification.

Developed quality systems to ISO9001 and experienced as a quality system auditor (e.g. for the IT department of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation in Hong Kong).

BAE Systems – Warton

Defensive Aids Team (Eurofighter Typhoon) – Systems Engineer:

Worked in the multinational Avionics Joint Team designing the Defensive Aids System for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft comprising an integrated system for electronic warfare (ESM/ECM), missile warning, chaff/flare countermeasures and related displays and controls. In addition to full participation in all aspects of the design had primary responsibility for the integration of the MIL-STD-1553 databus, its' interface with other subsystems and for establishing and developing the reversionary modes. The design methodologies CORE and HOOD were used.

RADAR Simulation Team (Tornado) – Systems Engineer:

Worked in a small team simulating a Tornado aircraft RADAR system using the design methodology CORE and Ada software. It was tested by real-time analysis in a cockpit simulator using test sequences developed from recorded data and pre-calculated targets.

Flight Controls Team (EAP) – Systems Engineer:

Responsible for specifying and developing the tests to be performed on the flight control software of the Experimental Aircraft Program technology demonstrator aircraft EAP (the Eurofighter Typhoon prototype), involving static, dynamic and functionally varied testing. Knowledge of avionics software and close involvement with the test rig validation team was vital. The software was written in Fortran 77.

British Petroleum Research Centre

Design Department – Trainee Systems Design Engineer (part of degree):

Responsibility for planning, designing, supervising installation and commissioning on laboratory projects such as laser safety trips, process temperature and pressure control, hazardous substance detection, emergency shutdown systems and robotic sensor design.

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