Accelerating mission success through digital engineering innovation with SAIC

Insights from Christopher G. Finlay, VP of engineering at the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Innovation Factory

Federal agencies use Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the AWS Partner Network to deliver complex systems efficiently and effectively. Digital engineering (DE) has emerged as a game-changing approach to addressing these challenges. We recently sat down with Christopher G. Finlay, VP of engineering at the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Innovation Factory, to discuss how digital engineering is transforming the federal space and accelerating mission success.

Traditionally, modeling and simulation have been critical across the federal government, but the process has been slow and resource-intensive. DE has changed this calculus, allowing for rapid iteration and integration across the digital thread through digital twins, manufacturing, and design. This approach reduces costs while increasing effectiveness.

Finlay explained, “DE at its core is about generating models and structured data to capture engineering solutions. The digital thread integrates that data within and across engineering domains to ensure consistency, traceability, and completeness of designs.”

Although the benefits of DE are clear, federal agencies face several significant challenges in implementing these initiatives. During our discussion, Finlay highlighted three primary obstacles that organizations must address to succeed in their DE transformation: understanding the “how,” cultural shift and workforce development, and the increasing complexity in system development.

Understanding the “how”

The transition from traditional engineering approaches to DE requires more than just mandate compliance—it demands a clear implementation strategy. Organizations face several hurdles. Stakeholders within agencies can be confused about where to start. These stakeholders understand they need DE, but struggle to identify where and how to begin. Tool selection can be a challenge because organizations must examine and assess a multitude of complex DE tools and platforms. The process of integrating DE methodologies with existing workflows and systems is a substantial one, presenting considerable work fraught with obstacles. Finally, standards alignment is a significant issue. Agencies must ensure compliance with both DE standards and agency-specific requirements.

“They know they want to do it, or are mandated to do it, but don’t know how or where to start,” Finlay explained. This knowledge gap often leads to delayed implementation or inefficient adoption strategies.

Cultural shift and workforce development

Perhaps the most significant challenge lies in transforming organizational culture and developing workforce capabilities. There can be resistance to change because traditional engineering practices are deeply ingrained in many organizations. The existing workforce needs significant skills retraining in new tools and methodologies, but there is a limited pool of DE-experienced professionals in the market. As a result, there’s a great need for comprehensive training programs and continuous learning initiatives.

“Organizations are not going to be able to hire their way out of this challenge,” Finlay emphasized. Success requires a balanced approach involving hiring, training, and cultural transformation.

Increasing complexity in system development

Modern defense and federal systems face unprecedented complexity, creating additional challenges. Because systems are complex, they require sophisticated integration approaches. Costs are rising because inflation and supply chain disruptions are driving up development expenses. At the same time, governments face significant resource constraints, and engineering departments operate under tight budget restrictions. Meanwhile, the “speed of relevance” demands the delivery of capabilities at an increasing pace.

“It’s made it harder for our government mission partners to keep up with rising costs of complex system development and to deliver mission outcomes at the speed of relevance,” noted Finlay.

The confluence of these challenges with the DE mandate has created an opportunity for positive change. As Finlay observed, “The urgency and acceptance have made the transition less painful due to the recognition of DE’s necessity in addressing these fundamental challenges.”

By acknowledging and systematically addressing these challenges, organizations can develop effective strategies for DE implementation that align with both their mission requirements and a mandate from the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

Watch the full interview with Finlay:

DoD’s digital engineering mandate

The DoD took its first major step toward DE in 2018 by releasing its Digital Engineering Strategy. The DoD followed this in 2023 with DoD Instruction 5000.97, which provided both a formal mandate and funding for DE initiatives. These actions changed how agencies approach engineering projects.

The mandate’s effects were immediate and widespread. It released dedicated funding streams for DE projects and provided clear budget justification for transformation efforts. By creating a sense of urgency, the mandate influenced organizations to become more receptive to change. Traditional acquisition cycles became more modern and efficient, with fewer system development problems.

The industry responded positively to these changes. Early investors saw their decisions validated, while interest in DE capabilities grew significantly. Tool development accelerated, and companies increased their focus on workforce development. As Finlay noted, “The instruction validated our investments, and we’ve seen an increased interest in our digital engineering capabilities.” This validation has strengthened SAIC’s dedication to creating comprehensive DE solutions that help federal agencies meet both the mandate’s requirements and their mission goals.

SAIC’s innovative approach to digital engineering through strategic partnership

SAIC has created a comprehensive DE approach for federal agencies. This approach has three main parts. First, SAIC offers DE Transformation Strategy Planning, which assesses current practices and creates customized roadmaps. Second, SAIC has developed the ReadyOne platform on AWS infrastructure, providing an integrated DE ecosystem. Third, SAIC provides DE Execution Services, including support for critical phases and continuous improvement.

SAIC’s partnership with AWS has been crucial in developing these capabilities. The collaboration uses AWS secure infrastructure and advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) technologies. This partnership has led to faster implementation, better capabilities, and lower risk for federal customers. Finlay noted that through this partnership, SAIC has developed and deployed new DE capabilities more quickly.

Looking to the future, SAIC and AWS are focusing on integrating generative AI, advanced digital twins, and expanded mission support tools. These efforts aim to help federal agencies meet current DE requirements and prepare for future innovations. As Finlay stated, “Our partnership with AWS has been transformative. It’s about aligning our capabilities to deliver better outcomes for our federal customers.”

Getting started with DE

For agencies beginning their DE journey, success lies in taking a measured, strategic approach backed by experienced partners. “Seek organizations with bona fide proof points that have experience using DE ‘in anger,'” Finlay emphasized, highlighting the importance of working with partners who have demonstrated real-world implementation success. He recommends starting with small, achievable projects that can deliver quick wins and build momentum for broader adoption. SAIC supports this approach through hands-on labs and support for early adopters, helping reduce the risk inherent in the adoption process.

The key is to balance ambition with practicality, focusing on concrete, measurable outcomes while building the foundation for more comprehensive DE implementation. Through this measured approach, organizations can develop internal expertise, validate benefits, and create advocates within their organization while minimizing risk. “Success in digital engineering transformation isn’t about making one big leap,” Finlay noted. “It’s about taking strategic steps that build upon each other, supported by partners who understand both the technology and the federal mission space.”

Conclusion

As federal agencies continue to grapple with complex challenges and increasing demands, DE offers a powerful set of tools and methodologies to accelerate mission success. By embracing DE across the digital thread, organizations can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver more effective solutions to meet the needs of tomorrow’s missions.

Learn more

If you’re interested in the technical details of SAIC’s DE platform ReadyOne, we invite you to watch our in-depth discussion. The video explores how ReadyOne has become a powerful enterprise solution built on AWS infrastructure.

In the deep dive, you’ll learn about:

• How ReadyOne uses over 50 AWS services
• The platform’s digital thread and data model architecture
• The AWS Research and Engineering Studio configuration management capabilities
• The impressive ninefold return on investment compared to traditional engineering methods

Learn how SAIC started with a small team and minimum viable product and developed that into a platform based completely on AWS. We also discuss exciting future developments, including:

• Integration of large language models (LLMs)
• Enhanced data processing capabilities
• Improved simulation interactions

The platform’s core mission remains clear: ensuring mission-critical engineering environments are ready on day one of execution and allowing teams to understand problems before systems are built.

Watch this video to learn how ReadyOne can transform your organization’s engineering capabilities and see why it has become a leader in the DE space.