2009 Issue 1 - Raytheon

PEOPLE: RAYTHEON CERTIFIED ARCHITECTS
Steven P. Davies
Engineering Fellow
Network Centric Systems
Steven Davies is a Raytheon certified architect
working in the Advanced Engineering
Solutions department at Raytheon Network
Centric Systems (NCS) in Fullerton, Calif.,
supporting a number of programs and pursuits.
Recent endeavors include a Houston
Metro highways proposal, support for the
GPS Operational Control Segment program/pursuit
and the pursuit and recent
contract award for the Joint Precision and
Approach Landing System.
A 28-year veteran of Raytheon and Hughes, Davies’ professional
experience spans digital hardware design in the area of programmable
digital signal processing, real-time embedded software development for
sonar systems, and systems engineering and architecture development
across distributed sensor systems, ship computing infrastructure, and
navigation and landing systems.
While designing a next-generation digital signal processor, Davies
developed logic synthesis and simulation technology that enabled
implementation of four of the most complex Configurable Gate Arrays
that Hughes Ground Systems Group had developed up to that time.
He leveraged that computer-aided engineering software experience and
moved to developing embedded real-time software to support the digital
signal processor. Following that experience, he developed networking
and application software for one of the first U.S. Navy real-time
systems implemented on a Unix operating system using commercial
computer networking technology. He followed that system into testing
and deployment, which included going to sea in order to test and
demonstrate the system. All of this experience, he said, “Gave me a
breadth of technical experience and a full lifecycle perspective to be an
effective systems engineer.”
For Davies, the appeal of his work is simple: “I enjoy tackling
engineering challenges. To me, finding a solution to a difficult problem
is reward in itself.”
With four patents in the area of programmable digital signal processing
architectures — one for a high-assurance computing architecture —
and an invention disclosure pending for a dynamic toll road pricing
algorithm, Davies attributes much of his success to the encouragement
of his managers. “I was fortunate to have managers who made sure I
got opportunities and exposure I needed to grow and advance.”
Beyond his program and pursuit responsibilities, Davies is a member of
the NCS Architecture Review Board. Active in technical instruction
within Raytheon, he was the developer and primary instructor for the
Reference Architecture module of the Raytheon System Engineering
Technical Development Program and recently developed a SEtdp module
on System of Systems architecture. He also teaches Raytheon
Enterprise Architecture Process, Principles of Systems Engineering, and
Architecture Methods.
Teaching and mentoring play a prominent role in Davies’ career, and
they reflect his lifelong philosophy of learning and adding value. “I
advise everyone to never stop learning, always be aware of how your
work adds value, and seek out opportunities to help others. I believe
that we all benefit when we make an effort to help each other.”
42 2009 ISSUE 1 RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGY TODAY
John McDonald
Chief Engineer/Chief Architect
Intelligence and Information Systems
Raytheon Six Sigma Expert
In nearly 25 years working at Raytheon or
one of its legacy companies, Raytheon
Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS)
Chief Engineer and Chief Architect John
McDonald has worked in a variety of areas.
“My focus will be quite different at any one
time depending on the current focus at IIS,”
he said. He is currently working on the
acquisition phases of the global positioning
system control segment (GPS/OCX); Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite System (GOES-R); and Global Broadcast
Service (GBS) III, as well as the execution phase of Seahorse.
“I was always looking for a position in the organization where I could
make a difference in the company’s success,” McDonald said. “I’ve done
that, plus I enjoy the diversity of the job.”
In addition to directly working on two major program acquisitions in
the last several years, McDonald played a significant role in the MIND
proposal, which became a program.
In 1999, McDonald and his team launched what eventually became
the Raytheon Enterprise Architecture Process (REAP). “A lot of great
people got involved in this effort and saw it through,” McDonald
recalled. “I am sure that I will always remember this as one of the
more satisfying accomplishments for me at Raytheon.”
McDonald’s daily tasks involve a variety of activities at the corporate
and IIS level. He manages both the Systems Engineering Technical
Development Program and the Raytheon Certified Architect Program
for IIS. He is a charter member of the Raytheon Architecture Review
Board and a member of the IIS Technology Council and Garland,
Texas, Site Council.
A common theme throughout McDonald’s work is a “focus on the
fundamentals.” He also emphasizes the role of building relationships
as key to business success. “It’s important to exercise the diplomacy it
takes to get the many varied factions and functions to work together,”
he explained.
McDonald offered advice to others on how to succeed at Raytheon,
and in life. “First, be considerate and respectful of people in general.
Be sincere, because they will know if you are not. Second, try to get
through your own bias to see the other person’s perspective. This can
often help reconcile difficult situations. Third, take ownership of
maintaining your professional skills.”
The Raytheon Certified Architect Program (RCAP)
is the culmination of Raytheon’s systems architecting
learning curriculum. RCAP focuses on providing our
customers with the expertise needed to support their
long-term transformational goals. In recognition of their
certification, we continue to highlight our Raytheon
certified architects.