Stephen Stegall
Systems Engineering & Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Lead
Multi-Agent Swarming • Distributed Mission Autonomy • Full-Spectrum M&S • Software Systems
Active DoD Security Clearance
Accomplished Systems Engineering and Simulation Lead offering over 15 years of professional experience focused on multi-agent swarming topologies, algorithm logic, and distributed mission autonomy. Possesses extensive technical knowledge in containerized environments and Linux-based systems. Demonstrated success in guiding multidisciplinary teams throughout the product lifecycle, encompassing everything from the rapid prototyping of UAS swarms to the field-testing and deployment of mission and safety-critical hardware-software interfaces.
Core Technical Competencies
Modeling, Simulation & Analysis
Full-Spectrum M&S
Constructive, virtual, and live (LVC) environments across pure software, HITL/SITL, real-time, faster-than-real-time, and parametric simulations.
Physics & Sensor Phenomenology
High-fidelity sensor modeling (AESA Radar I-Q level, EO/IR, SIGINT/ELINT, Mode-S/ADS-B, ACAS Xu), frame transformations, and targeting.
Standardized Simulation Interfaces
Architecting standardized simulation interface architectures and scalable middleware across distributed multi-platform nodes.
Operational & Trade Analysis
Mission effectiveness, combat analysis, and flight envelope trade studies (STK, MATLAB/Simulink, AFSIM, NGTS).
Autonomy, Swarming & Robotics
Robotics Middleware
Robotics Operating System (ROS2), Behavior Trees, DDS QoS tuning, and decentralized message topologies.
Flight Stacks & Autopilots
ArduPilot, PX4 flight controllers, MAVLink telemetry protocol, and Gazebo.
Distributed Swarm Consensus
Fault-tolerant consensus algorithms, dynamic leader-follower re-election, and decentralized coordination in contested/degraded comms.
Software Engineering & Systems
Programming Languages
Rust, Modern C++, C, Python, C#, Fortran, Shell scripting.
Software Architecture & UI
Object-oriented architectural patterns, automated test harnesses, and UI/HCI development (GTK, Qt, XAML).
Secure Linux Environments
GNU/Linux development, kernel tuning, and hardening in secure and classified enclaves.
Autonomy & Estimation Algorithms
Integration of modern decision logic, state estimation, and sensor fusion algorithms.
Infrastructure & Protocols
Containerization & Virtualization
Rootless Podman, Docker, OpenShift, and VMWare enterprise virtualization.
Network & Comms Middleware
UDP, TCP, DDS (Data Distribution Service) real-time middleware.
Avionics Bus & Serial Standards
MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429, UART/SPI, Ethernet, and deterministic serial protocols.
Numerical Methods & Control
Modern Control Theory
Linear and nonlinear control systems for atmospheric aircraft, formation flight, and multi-agent dynamics.
Optimization & Trajectory Generation
Complex mathematical optimization, guidance algorithms, and trajectory generation for multi-agent formations.
Systems Engineering & Hardware
Safety-Critical Verification & Certification
Requirements derivation (SYS I–IV), statistical error tolerance analysis, V&V, and FAA Safety-Critical Certification.
Rapid Prototyping & Edge Hardware
Small-board computers (NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi, SoM), custom PCB design, additive manufacturing, and precision machining.
Recent Technical Projects
Distributed Swarm Consensus Architecture
Rust • ROS2 • DDS • Behavior Trees
Developed fault-tolerant consensus mechanisms for multi-agent autonomous swarms utilizing Behavior Trees and DDS QoS tuning to maintain topological integrity and mission objectives during simulated communication degradation and packet loss.
Resilient Swarm Coordination in Contested Environments
Containerized ROS2 • Linux • Distributed Consensus
Built a containerized ROS2 simulation sandbox to validate autonomous fallback behaviors and dynamic leader-follower re-election during simulated comms denial and electronic warfare jamming.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) Swarm Orchestration
ROS2 • Sensor Fusion • Heterogeneous Agents
Engineered heterogeneous swarm orchestration algorithms under simulated high-intensity EW jamming and adversarial radar environments, coordinating sensor fusion and dynamic task allocation.
Professional Experience
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Systems Engineer, M&S Lead
2020 – Present
- Architected a comprehensive constructive-to-real-time simulation framework integrating advanced autonomy across multi-platform, heterogeneous uncrewed aircraft architectures for System-of-Systems (SoS) mission verification.
- Engineered an automated Monte-Carlo verification framework (C++ / Python) executing millions of statistical simulation runs to validate non-deterministic autonomous behaviors and guarantee error tolerances required for FAA Safety-Critical Certification.
- Pioneered the first-ever operational flight program integration and safety-critical SITL/HITL verification of ACAS Xu onto an uncrewed platform, achieving a historic milestone for autonomous collision avoidance in cooperative National Airspace (NAS).
- Directed full-lifecycle verification (SYS I–IV) for autonomous flight safety, translating complex algorithmic metrics into cleared operational envelopes while consulting on enterprise-wide Detect and Avoid (DAA) and M&S accreditation efforts.
M&S Advanced Development Lead
2015 – 2020
- Led integration, testing, and evaluation of multi-platform and multi-site distributed constructive, virtual, and live (LVC) M&S efforts across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Executed rapid model updates and real-time anomaly diagnosis during live field integration events, swiftly resolving hardware-software interface anomalies to preserve high-visibility flight test windows.
Internal Innovation Challenges / Competitions Lead
2014 – 2017
- Directed cross-functional engineering teams (10–30 members) in the rapid design, development, and tactical deployment of heterogeneous autonomous UAS swarms for competitive challenges, consistently achieving top-tier ranking.
- Architected an edge distributed processing architecture utilizing NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi, and Pixhawk autopilots—offloading heavy computer vision and sensor fusion to preserve real-time compute loops for edge tactical execution.
Systems Engineer, M&S
2009 – 2015
- Modeled complex sensor phenomenology and signal characteristics—including maritime AESA Radar (I-Q level parametric), Air-to-Air Radar, EO/IR optical sensors, and ELINT/SIGINT suites—to evaluate mission effectiveness and trade sense-and-avoid capabilities for High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) platforms.
- Developed high-fidelity simulations for Mode-S/ADS-B interrogation systems and tactical combat scenarios using MATLAB/Simulink, AFSIM, and STK.
- Led comprehensive Verification and Validation (V&V) activities across diverse M&S asset suites, establishing rigorous validation pipelines for flight program readiness.
Consulting (Straight Up Imaging / Hi-Tech)
Autonomous Systems & Payload Integration Consultant
2016 – 2019
- Integrated dynamic payload drivers and stabilization control loops for rapid sUAS concept development, interfacing over MAVLink, CAN, UART/SPI, and custom avionics protocols.
- Leveraged small-board computers and system-on-module units (NVIDIA Jetson TX2, Raspberry Pi) to satisfy demanding onboard real-time compute and sensor processing requirements.
Education & Academic Research
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2009
M.S. & B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
Thesis: Formation Feedback Control of UAV Flight. M.S. Concentration in Aeronautics; B.S. Concentrations in Aeronautics and Astronautics with Minor in Mathematics. Core research focus in Modern Control Theory, Optimization, and Swarm Dynamics.