E94 Requirements Engineering, part 1: Fundamentals

E94 Requirements Engineering, part 1: Fundamentals

From The Agile Embedded Podcast by Luca Ingianni, Jeff Gable

April 15, 2026 · 47 min · Episode 94

About this episode

The episode explores the fundamentals of requirements engineering and its importance in Agile practices.

We kick off a multi-part series on requirements engineering by exploring what requirements actually are and why they matter - even for Agilists. Jeff shares his medical device expertise while Luca brings his automotive and aerospace background to discuss the different levels of requirements (from high-level user needs to testable system requirements), the importance of traceability, and why proper tooling beats Word and Excel every time. We dig into practical aspects like the EARS format for writing requirements, the crucial distinction between requirements and design choices, and why glossaries aren't as boring as they sound. Along the way, we tackle the tension between regulatory compliance and actual engineering value, emphasizing that documentation should be an artifact of diligent work - not the work itself. Whether you're in safety-critical industries or just want to build better products, understanding requirements engineering helps manage complexity and prevent costly mistakes.

People in this episode

Hosts: Luca Ingianni, Luca

Guest: Jeff

Topics covered

  • requirements engineering
  • Agile methodology
  • traceability
  • regulatory compliance
  • documentation
  • safety-critical industries
  • product development

Keywords

  • requirements
  • Agilists
  • traceability
  • EARS format
  • design choices
  • regulatory compliance
  • documentation
  • safety-critical
  • engineering value

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: medical device, automotive, aerospace, EARS, Word, Excel

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