In our last episode, Trace Bannon and Dan Whitliff established the need for certifying critical system software engineers just as we certify engineers in chemical, architectural, mechanical and other safety-critical verticals.
In this show, we dive into when, where, and how critical system engineering certification programs are rolling out.
Our guests in this show include Professional Engineer Ben Amaba, Ph.D., Fellow, Institute of Industrial Systems Engineers, and technical advisory board member for the Florida Institute for National Security (FINS); and Michael Coleman, senior certification developer at the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET).
Specifically, they cover the pre-requisites and requirement to assess and certify software engineers for a new industry-recognized Systems Software Integrators (SSI) exam. The SSI certification program focuses on secure development and integration across the software product supply chain, particularly for critical infrastructure/safety critical systems.
With heavy industry support and peer review, Michael spearheaded the certification’s exam questions. The exam is now in pilot, which ends July 1. Michael describes the SSI as an “assessment program” based on core competencies, skills, and experience (six years in the field, or three years with a bachelor’s degree in the same field they work in).
“We ask applicants to describe their experience in four competency domains – program management, quality assurance, system integration and risk mitigation,” he says. “We have a competency map organized into those four domains with 39 sub competencies.”
Already, manufacturers and engineers are lining up to take the exam.
“Interest is amazingly high,” Ben says. “When it started on the national level, it got overwhelming. So, today I’m focusing on the state of Florida. Universities across the state are embracing it – and corporations too, especially those dealing with safety critical systems.”
Ben and Michael attribute demand for this certification to the exponential growth of critical infrastructure threats and breaches, particularly on energy sector systems. Michael brings up a furnace system that exploded after ransomware operators couldn’t reverse their malware. And Ben talks about the open-source risk and advancements in attacker use of AI, adding, “It becomes a race between AI, quantum computers, GPUs and software.”
Tune in here for the full interview.
#NICET
#NSPE
#INCOSE
#INSTITUTE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERS
Resource links:
- NICET.org SSI program webpage is www.nicet.org/ssi.
- SSI Content Outline (PDF) the link is www.nicet.org/nicetorg/assets/file/public/ssi_content_outline_2024.pdf
- SSI News page
- The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) has more than 23,000 members, 46,000-plus customers, and 93 universities to get the message out about the SSI certification program.
- From May 31 to June 3 (2025) in Atlanta, IISE his hosting its annual conference spanning construction, energy, facility, health, manufacturing, industrial control systems, and other critical tracks.
- From July 30 to August 2nd (2025) in Marco Island Florida, the Florida Engineering Society and the American Council on Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Florida, are holding an annual conference focused on resilience and supply chain technology covering ports, airports, and other safety-critical infrastructure.
- Cyber-Informed Engineering under Idaho National Labs
Explore the many safety-critical industries that CodeSecure’s SAST and binary composition analysis scanning software covers.
