Systems Engineering Director
Thales UK
Hillary graduated in Physics from St Andrews University in 1976, and started his career with Ferranti (now Selex) in Edinburgh as an optical engineer. He worked on many laser system projects, developed design, integration and test techniques for multi-spectral optical systems, led the optical design team for the TIALD laser designator pod, and played a key role in developing the company’s infra-red countermeasures business.
He moved to Thales Optronics in Glasgow in 1993, contributing to the strategy and early definition for many of the current generation of its products, and subsequently held appointments as Chief Systems Engineer and Chief Engineer. He was active in the Thales Systems Engineering network, contributed to the development of the Thales Systems Engineering Method (SysEM), deployed Requirements Management and piloted UML system modelling techniques in Thales Optronics, and wrote a guide on Product Line Architectures.
Seconded to Thales UK Corporate in 2003-4 as Engineering Director Prime Contract Support, he made important inputs into major bids and programmes including the FIST Future Soldier programme, the Future Carrier, the WATCHKEEPER Unmanned Air System, and a major Command and Control system, and led the development of the Systems Engineering part of the Thales Prime Contract Management Handbook and associated training. From 2005 to 2008 he was seconded to UK MOD as head of the Integration Authority, responsible for managing system-of-systems interoperability and developing systems engineering skills in DE&S. On return from the secondment he became the Chief systems Architect for Thales Land & Joint Systems Division in the UK and on 31st March 2009 was appointed Systems Engineering & Architects (SEA) UK manager for the division. He became Thales UK’s Systems Engineering Director in Autumn 2010.
He has been a member of INCOSE since 1996. He contributed to INCOSE’s Systems Engineering 2020 Vision, presented papers at several INCOSE International Symposia winning a Best paper awards in 2005 and 2010, and was president of INCOSE’s UK Chapter from 2004 to 2006. He is a Thales Expert, a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Bristol, The Systems Centre.
He is a Fellow of the International Council on Systems Engineering. There are currently about 50 INCOSE fellows worldwide of whom about 5 live in the UK.
"INCOSE Fellows are individuals with significant verifiable contributions to the art and practice of Systems Engineering in industry, government or academia. This award recognizes practitioners from government and industry applying knowledge and contributing to the practice of systems engineering in designing and acquiring systems, researchers developing new knowledge, pushing the theory forward, and teachers disseminating knowledge and developing the next generation of successful systems engineers." He was certified as an ESEP (Expert Systems Engineering professional) in February 2010 and is a member of the author team of the BKCASE Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge.
Hillary has been influential in setting up the EPSRC funded, Industrial Doctorate Centre for Systems at the University of Bristol and the University of Bath. He is a Visiting Professor at the Systems Centre. Prior to this he was a Visiting Fellow in which capacity he has:
• Provided Practitioner Lectures on Systems and System of Systems Architecture
• Mentored Doctorate level Researchers
• Is contributing to the Royal Academy funded Sustainable Systems Masters level Teaching Unit.
• As a member of the Centre’s Strategic Advisory Board, he continues to provide the IDC Systems Centre Director with wise counsel on the development of the Centre.
• He is a member of the LSCITS National Stakeholder Advisory Board
Hillary has led the INCOSE UK mission to achieve Professional recognition for Systems Engineers in UK, which is of long term importance to the Centre and to the professional development of our Doctorates. Hillary has been inspirational in breaking down the barriers between ‘systems thinking’ (people orientated) and ‘systems engineering’ (equipment orientated). He is an excellent ambassador for the systems community and Bristol. This is particularly important in engaging younger people in what is a vitally important subject and industry.
