"All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection." - Butler Lampson
And, from what limited sources I could find:
"[above] ... Except for the problem of too many layers of indirection" - David Wheeler
Wilkes, Wheeler, and Gill wrote a book, "Preparation of programs for an electronic digital computer", that pretty much describes the core software engineering precepts we use today - in 1951.
Gill wrote "The Diagnosis of Mistakes in Programmes on the EDSAC", which gives a good snip of what they were doing at the time. I think that it can be obtained for free online.