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SE Orchestrator: routes questions to the right knowledge packs

This is an orchestrator, not a knowledge pack. It carries no source content. On explicit /se <question> it matches your question to installed catalogue packs, reads them, and answers with pack and chapter citations.

When to use

Prerequisites: none: plain Markdown; works on any host that loads Agent Skills. Pair it with the packs it routes to.

/se answers systems-engineering questions by consulting installed packs. It is an entry point, not a knowledge base. Use it when you do not already know which /<slug> to open.

How /se answers

Modes

Mode	When	Gate
Narrow consult	One Topics row matches, at most one agency named, no compare/contrast/survey verb	None. Best single pack. End with "Also relevant" runners-up.
Broad consult	Two or more Topics rows, two or more agencies, or a compare/contrast/survey verb	One plan approval naming packs and why, then run to done. Disagreements under "Where the sources differ"; never average or blend.
Deliverable	An artifact verb (draft, write, produce, prepare, build, review, verify) plus a Deliverables row name or keyword	Plan approval, then stage pauses after Draft and after Review (Verify is last).

Routing

1. Match Topics keywords case-insensitively, with synonym judgement (e.g. "V&V" hits verification and validation rows).
2. Agency filter: when the question names agencies, keep candidates listed on those Agency contexts rows as long as one survives; otherwise keep all candidates and say no pack from that agency covers the topic.
3. Narrow pick: first-listed pack of the matched row after the filter; if that pack's Scope & Limits flags the question thin, take the next on the row. The consult stays narrow (no gate).
4. Broad pick: best-positioned candidate per named agency, then first-listed of each matched row, then second-listed, stopping at four, or earlier once every matched row and agency is represented and at least two packs are chosen.
5. No match: name the three closest Topics rows, suggest a rephrase or a direct /<slug>, and make no SE claims.

Reading

A pack lives at ../<slug>/ from this folder (native installs put members side by side). For each selected pack: read its SKILL.md index; open at most two chapters from its Topic Index / Chapter Index; open one support file (glossary.md, patterns.md, or cheatsheet.md) only for term, technique, or decision-rule questions. At most four packs total. If no chapter covers the question, record "no chapter in slug covers this" and use the index frameworks where they apply.

Each pack brief returns at most 10 claims of at most two sentences, each with a citation, plus a thin: line when Scope & Limits flags the question and a source: line copied from the pack's **Source** line. No claim from outside its pack.

Citations and Sources

Cite only files read this session, in these forms: [slug chNN], [slug index], [slug glossary|patterns|cheatsheet]. Drop uncited claims. Agreeing claims merge into one statement carrying every citation. Where the packs are silent, say so; no fallback to model memory. Every answer ends with a Sources block listing each pack's slug, its **Source** line, and its licence. Content-pack licences come from the Licences table, else the label Public Domain (US Government work). Signpost lines read MIT (signpost). Non-commercial and share-alike terms appear in full.

Deliverable stage chains

The matched Deliverables row is the chain. Draft / Review / Verify cells list the packs for each stage; an empty cell skips that stage (the plan says so). A review or verify request on a user-supplied artifact starts the chain at that stage.

• Draft builds the artifact from the Draft packs' guidance with inline citations, then pauses.
• Review lists cited findings against the Review packs' criteria and gives the revised artifact, then pauses.
• Verify reports a table of item, criterion, result, and citation, plus open items. It edits nothing and offers fixes as a follow-up.

Output goes in the reply unless the user names a file. A deliverable with no matching Deliverables row gets no improvised chain: name the closest Deliverables rows or offer a broad consult instead.

Edge cases

• Bare /se with no argument: print usage and three example questions (e.g. requirements quality, NASA risk process, hazard analysis draft).
• Sub-agent failure: rerun that brief in the main thread.
• Thin-pack step-down: if the selected pack's Scope & Limits flags the question thin, take the next pack on the row; the consult stays narrow.

Routing map

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Topics

Topic	Keywords	Packs (best first)
SE fundamentals & systems thinking	systems engineering, lifecycle, systems thinking, SE process, what is SE	sebok, nasa-se-handbook, dau-se-guidebook, nist-cps
Requirements engineering	requirements, shall statements, EARS, requirement quality, weak words, verifiable requirements	requirements-writing, faa-req-handbook, nasa-se-handbook
Requirements traceability & allocation	traceability, allocation, flow-down, bidirectional traceability	faa-req-handbook, requirements-writing, faa-std-025
Architecture & design	architecture, architecture framework, design solution, MOSA, modular open systems	dodaf, dod-mosa, nasa-se-handbook, sebok
Interface management	interfaces, ICD, interface control, ICID, interface definition	is-gps-200n, faa-std-025, nasa-se-handbook, faa-sem
Integration	integration, assembly, integration readiness, integration planning	nasa-se-handbook, nasa-se-expanded, doe-sem, dafman-63-119
Verification	verification, verification methods, test/analysis/inspection/demonstration, verifiability	faa-ams-vv, dod-vva-rpg, nasa-se-handbook, dote-te-guidebook
Validation	validation, effectiveness, operational suitability, user needs	dod-vva-rpg, faa-ams-vv, nasa-se-handbook, dote-te-guidebook
Test & evaluation	test and evaluation, T&E, developmental test, operational test, test readiness	dod-te-guidebook, dote-te-guidebook, dafman-63-119, dod-vva-rpg
Modeling, MBSE & simulation	MBSE, SysML, modelling, simulation credibility, M&S	nasa-systems-modeling, nasa-ms-7009, dod-vva-rpg, dodaf
Digital engineering	digital engineering, digital twin, digital thread, model-centric acquisition	dod-digital-engineering, digital-systems-engineering, nasa-de-acquisition
Configuration management	configuration management, baselines, change control, CM plans	mil-hdbk-61, nasa-se-handbook, faa-std-025
Data & information management	data management, technical data, data rights, information models	mil-hdbk-61, dodaf, nasa-de-acquisition, nasa-npr-7150, nist-cps
Risk management	risk, risk register, risk matrix, likelihood, consequence, risk acceptance, continuous risk management	nasa-risk, dod-rio, nist-ai-rmf
Opportunity & benefit management	opportunity, benefit, benefit-cost analysis, cost-effectiveness, BCA	federal-bca, dod-rio
Trade studies & decision analysis	trade study, decision analysis, alternatives, selection criteria, weighting	nasa-se-handbook, federal-bca, nasa-ceh, dod-vva-rpg
Work breakdown & technical planning	WBS, work breakdown structure, technical plans, SOW, planning packages	mil-std-881f, nasa-se-handbook, nasa-npr-7123, doe-sem
Technical measurement & assessment	TPM, technical performance measures, TRL, MRL, readiness assessment, statistical methods	gao-tra, mrl-deskbook, nist-stat-handbook, nasa-ms-7009
Quality assurance & airworthiness	QA, quality assurance, process compliance, airworthiness certification	mil-hdbk-516, gao-agile, nist-stat-handbook
System safety & hazards	safety, system safety, hazard analysis, fault management, PRA, mishap	mil-std-882, nasa-system-safety, faa-system-safety, nasa-pra, nasa-fault-management
Reliability & maintainability	reliability, maintainability, availability, RMA, R&M, failure rates	mil-hdbk-338, faa-rma, nasa-rm-standard
Cybersecurity & security engineering	cybersecurity, security engineering, RMF, incident response, CUI, secure software, CSF	nist-csf, nist-sse, nist-800-37, nist-800-171, nist-800-61, nist-ssdf
Cyber performance goals & infrastructure	critical infrastructure, performance goals, sector security, CPS	cisa-cpg, nist-csf, nist-cps
Human factors & HSI	human factors, HSI, usability, workload, crew stations, anthropometry	faa-hf-std, nasa-hsi, mil-hdbk-516
Logistics, sustainment & obsolescence	logistics, sustainment, supportability, DMSMS, obsolescence, parts management	sd-22-dmsms, dote-te-guidebook
Orbital debris & end-of-life disposal	orbital debris, passivation, reentry, disposal, spacecraft end-of-life	nasa-std-8719-14, nasa-se-handbook
Technical documentation & manuals	technical manuals, documentation standards, page-based documentation	mil-std-40051, faa-std-025
Cost & schedule	cost estimating, schedule, EVM, budget, program cost, schedule margin	gao-cost, gao-schedule, nasa-schedule, nasa-ceh, gao-agile
Manufacturing & quality engineering	manufacturing readiness, MRL, production, quality engineering, factory	mrl-deskbook, dod-mq-bok
Agile in government programs	agile, incremental delivery, iterative development, scrum oversight	gao-agile
Acquisition & suppliers	acquisition, procurement, supplier, contract, sourced approval	doe-o-413-3, nasa-de-acquisition, dod-mosa, mrl-deskbook, nasa-npr-7123
Governance, reviews & gates	reviews, gates, KDPs, milestones, certification, test readiness certification	dafman-63-119, eu-ai-act, doe-o-413-3, nasa-npr-7123, dau-se-guidebook
SE standards & process models	SE standards, ISO 15288, tailoring, lifecycle models, NPR requirements	sebok, nasa-npr-7150, nasa-npr-7123, dau-se-guidebook, nasa-se-handbook
AI & cyber-physical systems	AI, AI risk management, autonomous systems, cyber-physical, CPS, EU AI Act	nist-ai-rmf, nist-cps, eu-ai-act
Modelling language specifications	SysML spec, UML, UAF, BPMN, OMG specifications	omg-signpost, nasa-systems-modeling
SE standards landscape lookup	ISO/IEC/IEEE standards, INCOSE handbook, ECSS, SAE, where to get a standard	se-standards-signpost, sebok
Vehicle safety & automotive	vehicle safety, automotive, FMVSS, ADS, automated driving, vehicle cybersecurity	nhtsa-vehicle, automotive-signpost, functional-safety-signpost
GPS & GNSS interfaces	GPS, GNSS, NAVSTAR, space segment interface, ranging signal	is-gps-200n, faa-std-025

Agency contexts

Agency	Keywords	Packs
NASA	NASA, NPR, NASA-STD, NASA-HDBK, mission	nasa-se-handbook, nasa-npr-7123, nasa-npr-7150, nasa-risk, nasa-system-safety, nasa-hsi
DoD / DAU / OSD	DoD, MIL-STD, MIL-HDBK, DAU, OSD, DOT&E, DAF, SD-22, MRL	dau-se-guidebook, dod-rio, mil-std-882, dod-te-guidebook, mil-hdbk-61, dodaf
NIST	NIST, SP 800, framework, FIPS	nist-csf, nist-sse, nist-800-37, nist-800-171, nist-ai-rmf, nist-stat-handbook
FAA	FAA, AMS, air traffic, civil aviation	faa-sem, faa-ams-vv, faa-req-handbook, faa-system-safety, faa-hf-std, faa-rma
GAO	GAO, schedule assessment, cost assessment, agile assessment, TRA	gao-cost, gao-schedule, gao-tra, gao-agile
DOE	DOE, department of energy, order 413	doe-sem, doe-o-413-3
CISA / DHS	CISA, DHS, critical infrastructure, performance goals	cisa-cpg
OMB	OMB, circular A-94, federal benefit-cost	federal-bca
EU	EU, European Union, AI Act, regulation	eu-ai-act
NHTSA / USDOT	NHTSA, USDOT, FMVSS, vehicle safety standard, automated driving systems	nhtsa-vehicle

Deliverables

Deliverable	Keywords	Draft	Review	Verify
Requirements specification	requirements doc, SRD, shall statements, spec tree	requirements-writing, faa-req-handbook	requirements-writing	faa-ams-vv
ConOps	concept of operations, ConOps, operational concept, scenarios	nasa-se-handbook, sebok	nasa-se-handbook	faa-ams-vv
Risk register	risk register, risk log, risk statement, mitigation plan	nasa-risk, dod-rio	nasa-risk	dod-rio
Verification plan	verification plan, V&V plan, verification matrix	faa-ams-vv, dod-te-guidebook	faa-ams-vv	dote-te-guidebook
Hazard analysis	hazard analysis, hazard log, safety assessment, FMEA	mil-std-882, nasa-system-safety	mil-std-882	faa-system-safety
Interface control document	ICD, interface control document, interface definition	faa-std-025, is-gps-200n	faa-std-025
Trade study	trade study, trade-off analysis, alternatives evaluation	nasa-se-handbook, federal-bca	nasa-se-handbook
Work breakdown structure	WBS, work breakdown structure, WBS dictionary	mil-std-881f, nasa-se-handbook	mil-std-881f

Licences

Pack	Licence
sebok	CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
requirements-writing	Original guidance (CC BY 4.0); cited methods not reproduced
digital-systems-engineering	CC BY 4.0
eu-ai-act	EU Official Journal — reproduction authorised with source acknowledgement (Decision 2011/833/EU)

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Host modes

Pick the highest mode the host can run:

Mode	When	Behaviour
Fan-out	Sub-agents available	One brief per pack in parallel; main thread composes the answer. On sub-agent failure, rerun that brief in the main thread.
Sequential	No sub-agents, member files readable	Same briefs one at a time; write each pack's notes before opening the next.
Index-only	Transform installs (Codex, Gemini, Cursor rules)	Read sibling index files when readable. Cite [slug index] only, name chapters as follow-ups, and label the answer index-level: chapter bodies not installed.
Route-only	No member file readable	Report the routing decision and the /slug commands only. Make no SE claims.

Native-root fallback. When the skill folder is not revealed, try ~/.claude/skills/, ~/.openclaw/skills/, ~/.copilot/skills/, each with and without the jgs-se-knowledge-packs/ namespace. Transform index files live at ~/.codex/prompts/<slug>.md, ~/.gemini/commands/jgs-se-knowledge-packs/<slug>.toml, and ./.cursor/rules/<slug>.mdc.

Narrow consults read in the main thread on every host. A missing routed pack is noted and skipped; if none remain, fall back to route-only.

Scope & Limits

• No SE claim without a citation from a pack file read this session.
• The map is curated, not exhaustive. Agency rows are a filter, not an endorsement.
• At most six packs per Topics row. At most four packs read per answer.
• Deliverable stage chains come only from Deliverables rows; empty cells skip that stage.
• /se never overwrites an existing file without a yes at a gate.

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Orchestrator content © JG Systems Consulting Ltd. (MIT). Pack names and source titles are identified for routing only; each pack keeps its own licence.