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Systems Engineering and Architecture

Systems Engineering and Architecture

About the Office of SE&A

The Office of Systems Engineering and Architecture (SE&A) develops and promotes innovative engineering principles and techniques to advance DoW engineering practice. SE&A develops policy, guidance, standards, and best practice resources; manages DoW Standards; facilitates engineering-related communities of practice; and develops the defense engineering workforce by refining competency models and curricula. SE&A applies engineering and risk management expertise to inform decisions and improve system-of-systems architectures to reduce integration risk in mission-enabling systems. 

News and Events

News and events concerning SE&A.

Policy and Workforce

OUSD(R&E) SE&A Policy and Workforce (P&W) leads policy, guidance, and workforce development initiatives for the DoW engineering and technical workforce. 

Systems Engineering

SE&A Systems Engineering (SE) focuses on modernizing SE practice, including using modular open systems approaches (MOSA) to build systems that can be upgraded to incorporate new technology and respond to emerging threats. 

Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation

SE&A Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation (DEM&S) provides strategy, policy, guidance, and leadership to advance DoW practice in digital engineering and modeling and simulation.

Software Engineering

SE&A Software Engineering (SWE) provides highly disciplined processes for software and system architecture, design, and development to ensure quality software for the warfighter. 

Specialty Engineering

SE&A Specialty Engineering (SpE) develops capabilities such as human systems integration (HSI), manufacturing and quality (M&Q), reliability and maintainability (R&M), and system safety engineering (SSE) are considered and applied throughout the life cycle of DoW systems.

Defense Standardization Program Office

SE&A Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO) Identifies, develops, manages, and provides access to standardization processes and products for the defense community to promote interoperability, reduce cost, and sustain readiness.

Joint Architecture for Capabilities and Systems

SE&A Joint Architecture for Capabilities and Systems (JACS) promotes systems of systems fielded with speed, fidelity, and adaptability to enable continual evolution of U.S. warfighting dominance.  

Developmental Test, Evaluation, and Assessments

A high performing organization that provides preeminent systems engineering (SE) and test & evaluation (T&E) support enabling rapid development from concept to delivery of relevant capability for the DoW Joint force.https://www.cto.mil/dtea/

World map, Continents, Blue, Technology, Screens, Background, Countries

National Engineers Week: February 22-28, 2026

The Future of Standardization – DoW Digital Standards Strategy!

DoD Adopts Human Readiness Level Standard

Released: Software Engineering for Continuous Delivery of Warfighting Capability

Info Sheets

Value Engineering Info Sheet

Released: DETECT Info Sheet

Released: SysML Transition Info Sheet

Contact Us

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Office of the Under Secretary of War,
Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E))
3030 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3030