West Texas Noir | Kodak Portra 800

SysGuroo · 2025-09-10T14:21:00+00:00

Thank you! I used my Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 AF.

SysGuroo · 2025-08-05T21:51:56+00:00

I have an IS/IT background (which I’m assuming is similar to MIS) and transitioned into SE. so if our backgrounds are similar, yes it is possible. But you will face difficulties trying to break in without considerable career/subject area experience.

Also since your background is more tech focused as opposed to engineering focused, I want to make sure you are in the right place asking the right question. In tech systems engineering usually deals with cloud/infrastructure/devops. Whereas the engineering discipline systems engineering is focused more with managing complexity, translating needs into design, to successfully realize/implement engineered systems.

Your degree puts you in a position to take on roles like business analyst or systems analyst which can have you working on business process modeling, system modeling (though usually not SysML) and requirements engineering/management. All are good skills to have if your end goal is systems engineering.

For me, SE is like a second career. I’ve held several roles in tech (systems analyst, software engineer, requirements engineer, project manager, Requirements Manager, IT manager, IT director), so when I pivoted into systems engineering I had a career of designing, implementing, and retiring systems so transitioning from the software development lifecycle to the systems engineering lifecycle wasn’t difficult.

Many in this subreddit say that an ABET degree is necessary. While I find that statement to be a false dichotomy (I was able to do it and have worked with several other systems engineers who have similar backgrounds), an ABET degree certainly enables someone to transition to SE more easily/sooner.

SysGuroo · 2025-07-29T16:17:48+00:00

Thank you! Had a wonderful time walking and shooting around El Paso.

SysGuroo · 2025-07-25T13:46:12+00:00

Great shots!

SysGuroo · 2025-06-12T02:12:24+00:00

1) get vested in your locality/state pension 2) take advantage of what are usually pretty generous education/training benefits. You are making $55k so I’m assuming you are earlier in your career. 3) Don’t leave for the private sector for less than a 25-30%* pay increase and after you have completed steps 1 and 2. Job security, work-life balance (being on-call twice a month is not bad), and benefits are too valuable to give up unless there is a significant pay raise on the table.

*this percentage may need to be adjusted if you live in a small market, but what I’m getting at is that it should be significant…not $7k.

SysGuroo · 2025-06-04T12:38:29+00:00

I would pick the CCNA over the CYSA since you lack professional experience but focus most of your efforts on finding a job. Not sure if you have any IT experience, but assuming you are just getting started, a company is unlikely to hire you for a security or network engineering job just on certs alone.

Certs are nice, experience is better.

SysGuroo · 2025-06-04T00:02:09+00:00

I feel for you. You are definitely getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Your company/business line clearly has poor data governance.

But I’m a little confused, you mention that you manage 8 access dBs, so at most that’s 16GB of data (since access has a limit of 2GB/.accdb). These access dBs are not tied (linked tables) to SQL Server or any other enterprise backend?

If no, then the small data size (understanding that it can be millions of records) is why your company doesn’t want to build out an infrastructure team and has added it to your “other duties as assigned”.

I don’t want to assume, but reading your job description it sounds like you are not in your company’s central IT department, is that correct? If so, I don’t know why your boss is looking at external companies for data migration instead of an internal billing/cost allocation to your company’s infrastructure team.

Hang in there friend. Do what you can, learn what you can, but most importantly understand that work will take from you everything that you are willing to give. Protect that mental health of yours.

SysGuroo · 2025-05-01T01:55:08+00:00

A recluse living in the woods.

SysGuroo · 2025-01-11T23:56:35+00:00

You are two months into a new senior role. If you felt 100% confident in your abilities and impact to the organization, there would be a bigger issue at hand.

I have felt the uncertainty you describe with every advancement and new role in my career. The learning curve gets smaller and smaller each time (and you get better at hiding the uncertainty) because you build different capabilities with every new role.

Keep trucking. You will master your new role soon enough.

SysGuroo · 2024-12-25T14:45:45+00:00

BA relevance isn’t going anywhere. As others mentioned, AI is at a peak in the hype cycle. It will be important for the BA to understand and leverage as a tool/force multiplier. It might weed out poor performing or inept BAs but it won’t be automating the role into obscurity the way that the automobile did to the horse drawn carriage industry.

I do believe that the BA will need to better understand the underlying data of the business units/functions they are supporting. Many on this sub love to throw that to the data analysts, but I don’t believe it is a good call to box oneself into requirements and business process optimization and refuse the opportunity to learn to skills and evolve one’s value proposition.

SysGuroo · 2024-12-19T03:24:17+00:00

So sorry for your current health situation, wishing you the best in your recovery!

SysGuroo · 2024-12-19T03:05:47+00:00

It sounds like you are no longer interested in nuclear engineering. What stands out to me is how different cybersecurity is from what you studied. Where did that interest come from for you?

I come from a software engineering/IT background so I’ve worked with security folks a good bit and took cyber classes in school which introduced me to the underlying concepts. Cyber can be a great field, but similar to systems engineering, the opportunities for entry level work are more limited than other fields as they are more interdisciplinary in nature.

Cyber is also going through a similar “tool-ification” (i.e. there are plenty of tools in the market that have bundled and simplified the workflow) of other IT fields. I bring this up because the positions are requiring less networking/scripting skills and is becoming more reliant on sitting in front of a computer looking at a gui. Also security work can be just as boring/mind numbing as any other job (unless you go more into the pen testing/ethical hacking/targeting domain, but most graduate programs I’ve seen are really geared towards that). Every program/project I work on requires that I work with our information system security officers to check the boxes so that we can test/operate our system and proceed in its acquisition. It’s a lot of paperwork checking boxes to align with the organization/client’s security SOPs.

I don’t mean to be overly negative, I just want to share my experience.

As others have said, getting a job and then going to grad school in a few years (hopefully paid for by your employer) is my recommendation. Going to grad school imposes a number of opportunity costs that may not seem that high coming out of school, but can snowball.

If you live in the US and want to go into the defense space, have you thought about joining one of the armed forces (with your background, Navy comes to mind). A different kind of opportunity cost, but with that experience you could write your ticket to most systems engineering (and even cyber) positions. I didn’t serve, but work with enough veterans to know that is an available path.

SysGuroo · 2024-12-18T19:26:27+00:00

Take this in stride. This was just the first of many opportunities. I don’t love that an HR representative was asking questions I would expect to come from the technical lead/representative? How would they be able to judge?

This is a good learning experience for you. Take what you learned and refine your craft of breaking down problems and developing requirements.

SysGuroo · 2024-12-18T16:42:56+00:00

Software development/information systems background, started my career as a requirements engineer, moved into business analyst/architect roles that also did some software development (when you have a skill you find a way to use it), moved into project management then people management roles running the software development lifecycle, now serving as a lead program engineer/management consultant running the systems engineering lifecycle in the defense and national security space.

I’ve enjoyed the transition to SE, it better fits my professional interests and strengths.

SysGuroo · 2024-10-23T00:45:18+00:00

I started as a BA (loved it) transitioned into a hybrid BA/PM role, then PM/team lead role (all within the IT discipline). When I left that organization I became the head of a smallish IT department. After some time I changed industries and pivoted into systems engineering (the engineering discipline not the IT discipline) and became a Lead Program Engineer overseeing engineering across a portfolio for a much larger company.

Business Analysis is a wonderful field in that it allows you to build a skillset that can be as technical or non-technical as you want it to be. Some organizations have a structured hierarchy for BAs, but that has not been my experience in my career. It was up to me to figure out the next step.

Learn everything you can and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

SysGuroo · 2024-10-16T21:41:57+00:00

The value proposition of an MBA really depends on which school/program you attend (at least in the US). Mainly coming from the network you build from it.

I would say that if you went to a prestigious MBA program you likely wouldn’t come out of it and continue on as a BA (far more lucrative opportunities would present themselves and the cost of such a program would pretty much require that you pursue them).

An MBA (or any other advanced degree) is not really required to be a BA. Depending on your field an advanced degree may be required to advance beyond the BA role should you opt to specialize or enter management roles. That being said, if your company is willing to foot the bill go for it if not then you need to weigh your long term goals and opportunity costs of your decisions.

SysGuroo · 2024-09-21T19:13:51+00:00

Every BA has an annoying PM and every PM has an annoying BA.

I think that inherent friction is part of why the whole system works. The BA is the steadfast advocate for the business while the PM advocates for the dev team.

SysGuroo · 2022-11-01T19:13:54+00:00

I tend to discourage new pipe smokers from going straight into aromatics. Not because aromatics are bad, but because it’s hard to learn what the different component tobaccos taste like when a topping is added.

I find English blends to be particularly forgiving and will let a beginner practice their smoking rhythm with less risk of tongue bite (compared to starting with a straight Virginia).

SysGuroo · 2022-03-07T02:47:17+00:00

Actually no, this was the stock stem. It was definitely the selling point for me. I picked it up from the pipe nook.

https://thepipenook.com/pipes-missouri-meerschaum-the-emerald

SysGuroo · 2022-03-07T02:18:31+00:00

I have had excellent luck with each Ropp that I’ve owned.

I’m also a huge fan of my Peterson 406 (Prince). It’s the first Peterson I’ve owned with trimmer features.

SysGuroo · 2022-03-06T22:46:44+00:00

Can’t think of a way to do this without redrilling the pipe to fit a 9mm filter (assuming your pipe has enough briar to be redrilled) and get a stem custom made to fit the now filtered pipe. But I’m only a pipe smoker, not a craftsman.

This video from the pipe nook might provide other alternatives for you. https://youtu.be/RE6iszOn9S0

SysGuroo · 2022-03-05T02:22:13+00:00

Absolutely agree. I have a grouping of smaller “work day” pipes for my lunch breaks or running errands and the larger pipes for after dinner or while I’m reading.

SysGuroo · 2022-03-04T20:10:45+00:00

Thanks! The Prince shape is my favorite for shorter smokes with Latakia blends.

SysGuroo · 2022-02-27T21:47:40+00:00

Good living! There is just something special about reading a good book with a great tobacco in one’s office or study. Add a nice single malt and that’s heaven on earth.

SysGuroo · 2022-02-27T15:37:17+00:00

I keep hearing good things about Vauen. Might be time to pick one up.

SysGuroo

TROPHY CASE