One Engineering System (1ES) is a strategic standardised, integrated framework designed to streamline software development by unifying tools, processes, and practices across teams. It provides a consistent, scalable foundation that supports high-quality, efficient, and secure software delivery.
The One Engineering System (1ES) is a strategic approach to unifying engineering tools and practices across teams to reduce friction, foster collaboration, and enable consistency at scale. It’s about creating a shared engineering backbone that allows teams to move faster and more predictably by removing the chaos of disconnected toolchains and ad hoc workflows.
At its core, 1ES is not about enforcing a single toolset but about aligning teams around a common set of engineering standards that streamline how work gets done—from planning and coding to testing, deploying, and supporting software in production. This shared foundation reduces cognitive overhead, simplifies integration across teams, and makes it easier to deliver high-quality, reliable outcomes.
A successful 1ES strategy recognises that tools must serve the way teams work, not the other way around. Each team should be empowered to adapt their workflows within the shared system, leveraging the strengths of the chosen tools without being constrained by rigid implementations. It’s not about uniformity; it’s about coherence.
Implementing 1ES requires more than tooling changes—it demands investment in enablement. Teams need guidance, training, and support to adopt the system effectively. When done well, 1ES creates the conditions for scalable engineering excellence: clear communication, consistent processes, and a resilient development lifecycle across the organisation.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.
New Signature
Deliotte
DFDS
Hubtel Ghana
Philips
Teleplan
MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.
Sage
Higher Education Statistics Agency
Epic Games
Schlumberger
Graham & Brown
Slaughter and May
Emerson Process Management
Boeing
Microsoft
Healthgrades
Cognizant Microsoft Business Group (MBG)
Department of Work and Pensions (UK)
Washington Department of Transport
Nottingham County Council
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Royal Air Force
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
SuperControl
Slaughter and May
Slicedbread
Brandes Investment Partners L.P.
Lean SA
Milliman