About SyCel
SyCel is a founder-led consultancy. Luke Boswell leads every engagement and brings in trusted specialists when the work calls for them.
Who's behind SyCel
Luke Boswell
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) · National Engineering Register
Luke's background is in systems engineering management on defence programs, including test and evaluation, model-based systems engineering, and digital engineering. The work is concrete: write down what a system must do, then produce the evidence that it does it before acceptance.
SyCel applies the same discipline to commercial software. Luke scopes and leads every engagement, so the person you first speak with remains accountable for the work.
How SyCel scales
Built around the work, led by Luke
The size and shape of the team follows the project. Luke remains your lead and point of accountability throughout.
Direct delivery
For focused advisory and software work, you work directly with Luke. He scopes the engagement, does the work and stays accountable through delivery and handover.
Specialists when needed
When the work needs more capacity or a particular discipline, SyCel can bring in trusted people from Luke's professional network. Their roles, responsibilities and costs are agreed with you before work starts.
Technical delivery leadership
For broader projects, Luke can lead delivery across your team, external vendors and other specialists, keeping requirements, technical decisions, risks and acceptance aligned.
Credentials
Engineering credentials
Chartered engineer
Luke holds Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status with Engineers Australia and is listed on the National Engineering Register. Chartership assesses competency for independent practice; the credential is governed by a code of ethics and maintained through ongoing professional development. About Chartered · Search the NER
Defence test & evaluation
Test plans, evaluation reports, and acceptance evidence that show whether a system does what it claims.
Systems engineering
Model-based systems engineering, digital engineering, and requirements traceability: defining what done means before building.
Open source
Open-source compiler work
Roc compiler
Luke is a core contributor to Roc's new compiler, written in Zig. Richard Feldman's feature-parity write-up names Luke and Anton-4 as the “undisputed biggest contributors to the new compiler.” Read the write-up
Maintainer
Luke maintains roc-parser, roc-ray, roc-awesome, and Roc platforms. The commits, issues, and reviews are public.
Writing
Luke writes about compiler internals, parsers, and platform design, including the trade-offs behind the work.
The work is public: GitHub · Richard Feldman's write-up · roc-lang.org · blog.
In practice
How that shapes our work
Written before work starts
A Feature Brief and signed Statement of Work set out the approach, scope, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and cost. Together, these define what done means before work starts.
Tested and documented
Tests, documentation, and handover are Statement of Work deliverables, not extras added at the end.
Accountable after delivery
SyCel walks through the delivery and supports acceptance testing. Every delivery includes a 60-day warranty for work that does not perform as agreed.
Our robot chef
Why our mascot is a robot chef
Joe Sizzle started as a hand-drawn sketch: a robot in an apron, spatula in hand, quietly minding a grill. We kept him because the mix of technology and practical care fits how we want to work.
Anyone who's hosted a barbecue knows that good food doesn't happen by accident. Someone turns up early, prepares everything, watches the heat and cares whether people leave happy. Done well, most of that work is invisible.
Technology work is similar. When a business runs smoothly, someone dependable is looking after the details. We take care of the software, automation and AI so you can focus on your customers.
The robot half of Joe represents our trade. The chef half sets the standard: turn up prepared, watch the details and care how the work lands. His < > apron mark became our logo.
Joe was drawn by NOJOVER, a human artist. We work with AI every day, and we make a point of recognising the people behind the work.
Talk to the person who'll lead the work
Tell Luke what you're trying to build, fix or decide. He'll come back with questions and a written next step.
Start a conversationor email hello@sycel.dev