Okay, let’s tackle this. So Nick has a mix of technical and management skills, which is valuable. He has experience in multiple areas like systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and project management. Location is Royal Oak, Michigan, which is a mid-sized city with a lower cost of living compared to major hubs like New York or San Francisco. Industry demand for systems engineers is steady, but not extremely high. Considering his skills and location, I estimate his hourly rate to be around $125, which is slightly below average for a systems engineer in the US. However, this is a reasonable estimate based on the information provided.