Martin Hill
07901 55 24 66
martin/at/martinhill.me.uk

Defence Academy

Research & Consultancy in distributed collaborations across poor infrastructures

Blackford Analysis

Integration Engineer for a short project. Introduced quality assurance to an Edinburgh University spin off company, suitable for integrating with medical imaging systems

General Dynamics R&D, 2006-2010

Principal Engineer for collaboration systems in ‘disadvantaged’ environments, in particular military tactical (‘forward’) infrastructures. Led GD contributions to several projects including CIBM (Command Inform Battle Management), ESII (Enabling Secure Information Infrastructures) and BSU (Battlefield Shared Understanding). Negotiated final stages to bring CIBM on contract.

Adapted a range of project tools for our research teams including quality assurance practices, risk/opportunity management plans, and GD project management practices. Developed principles and algorithms for quality assurance within military collaboration systems, including multinational ones.

Various customers and sponsors, including several MoD organisations, other commercial organisations, QinetiQ and STFC. Academic collaborations included Cardiff University and Cranfield/Defence Academy.

Royal Observatory Edinburgh, 2002-2005

Senior Developer for AstroGrid, a PPARC (now STFC) –funded project to develop a globally distributed data analysis support toolset for astronomers worldwide.

Intended to be a commercial project to support the academic environment, but the team consisted of very few with commercial backgrounds. Quality controls were weak and in some cases even had the opposite effect to the ones intended; a useful lesson in the consequences of poorly designed assurance measures in distributed teams. I encouraged some more pragmatic approaches and moved on to consulting for the International Virtual Observatory.

Logica Space & Defence Division, 1997-2002

Design Authority for the EUTELSAT Satellite Control Centre: a mission critical system used to manage fifteen or so telecommunication satellites. Rigorous quality assurance controls from specifying requirements through writing proposals, setting up implementation processes, developing the system, and testing results against requirements, to maintenance corrections and updates. Designed complete packet-based telemetry replacement and operator-definable displays that required similar internal quality checks.

Project Manager for conversion of complete system to a new platform. Usual suitable project planning for such a system: estimated costing, risk registers with early ‘de-risk’ exercises, scoping, rather ‘challenging’ contract negotiation & conclusion, through successful delivery and close down. Managed customer relationship throughout.

Various other technical manager roles ensuring implementations delivered the required capability in high-quality-assurance environments, such as Galileo satellite/ground station interfaces, Y2K compliance and telemetry user interfaces.

Freelance Consultant, 1991-1997

Mostly independent software development with the usual project management activities required to deliver to customer satisfaction. Some more directed project management, such as setting up a school for ‘street kids’ in Nairobi.

Variety of customers & projects: medical practices, a camel farm, transport coordinators, Rotary, ESTEC, rally organisers.