Systems engineering: a benefit or ballast in astronomical infrastructure projects?

The presentation describes the historical background of systems engineering and its development based on the urgent need for systematic management approaches in highly complex and sophisticated scientific (space) and military projects. Not in every project related to technical equipment for astronomical applications a separate expensive systems engineer or systems engineering team is absolutely necessary. The presentation outlines the typical project constellations and boundary conditions requiring the implementation of systems engineering in a project management organisation and explains the benefits and advantages system engineering offers to the project. Whether a project benefits from the sys-tems engineering function or rather consider it as ballast and wasted money depends to a large degree on the people involved in the systems engineering function. The required characteristics for an efficient systems engineer are discussed as well as the personal and professional experience, which are prerequisites to be or become an ideal systems engineer.