Defining What Matters: Meet Matthew Harberd
Matthew joined Optima in 2024 as a Senior Systems Engineering Consultant, following an extensive career at DE&S working across a range of Defence domains. His work has spanned delivery of Electronic Countermeasure systems for Explosive Ordnance Disposal forces, requirements management and integration of complex weapons for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and most recently development of the conceptual solution for the future of Defence Test and Evaluation Service Provision. With a passion for Architecting and Requirements Management, Matthew brings a talent for turning competing needs into a clear, shared understanding of what a project has to deliver.
Your career has taken you through some seriously high-stakes engineering. What’s the thread that connects it all?
I think the primary driver behind my career direction is that I’ve always looked for change, and the opportunity to apply my skills to improve outcomes wherever I happen to be. This naturally led me over a range of roles towards becoming a Systems Engineering Consultant. I’ve found that this is a profession where every project brings a new challenge, with opportunities to learn from different teams and tackle problems from different perspectives.
Throughout my journey, I’ve had the privilege of working with some exceptional people who have shaped my understanding of what good systems engineering looks like and the standards I set for myself today.
You clearly enjoy getting into the detail of Architecting and Requirements Management. What draws you to that side of the work?
I am drawn to establishing clarity. When people are on the same page for what is required, progress is easy to make. Getting there, however, does require some effort. Any project is going to have multiple competing needs and cutting through the complexity of how these interact and change over time involves repeated analysis, communication, and negotiation to drill down to what is needed. This aspect of Systems Engineering allows me to work closely with stakeholders to capture what matters most and translate it into clear, precise requirements that deliver value.
Requirements traceability isn’t the only place you’re quick. You were the fastest runner on Optima’s Thornbury 10K charity team two years running. What’s your secret?
It’s like any project, you spend six months defining the perfect route, then sprint it the night before the deadline. Fitness is important to me, I’ve always maintained some kind of physical activity as a hobby, and running seems to be the current one! The way I currently maintain this is through Saturday morning Parkruns. Community events like these are incredibly valuable, as running alongside hundreds of other people makes running feel so much more accessible and enjoyable.
You’re also known for your Lindy Hop and Contemporary/Improvisation dancing. Quite a contrast to systems engineering. How do the two sit together for you?
Maybe not such a contrast. I haven’t got round to it yet, but I’ve wanted to create a dance-move flowchart to put on a T-shirt for a while. Dance gives me an opportunity to express myself through movement to music, whether that’s for performance, or sharing a fun moment.
What’s next for you, at Optima and beyond?
I’m excited by Optima’s growth and everything we’re already doing well. I’d like us to keep building our ability to deliver outstanding Systems Engineering across every sector we serve. I can support that by capturing the core principles behind our best work and sharing that knowledge across the business, helping us deliver consistently high standards as we continue to grow.
Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn