What do you do for work and do you like your job?

[Anonymous]

[abc3643]

I am an avionics systems engineer. I've been doing this stuff for 18 years. I have a certain natural talent for it because I am paranoid about technology. I'm the guy who makes sure your plane doesn't kill you.

People who do what I do for a living but are incompetent get people killed. Like the avionics systems engineers and their managers who approved the Boeing 737 Max Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) which ended-up killing 262 people in two plane crashes only months apart soon after the system was approved. Any engineering student who was a junior or later would have recognized the flaw in that system, but it was certified anyway because Boeing cheaped out and the FAA was too trusting.

Shit like that doesn't happen on my watch.

[love_conquers_lust]

Please elaborate on the flaw. Please present it as a problem so I may wager a guess.

[abc3643]

@love_conquers_lust The MCAS relied on a single angle-of-attack sensor. So, in flight, if there was a sensor problem, it gave erroneous readings which the flight control system would act upon and thus give the wrong corrective action.

[love_conquers_lust]

Did it control flaps and ailerons that froze in position because the controller was effectively getting a frozen reading, as in it was receiving a fixed manual input every time it polled data?

Here’s a materials science one. What property of the component caused the Challenger to explode?

[abc3643]

@love_conquers_lust No, the control system gave the wrong commands and the pilots didn't know how to disengage the system.

[abc3643]

Are you asking me about Challenger or quizzing me. Keep in mind that I remember that day. I was in graduy school.

[abc3643]

Graduate

[love_conquers_lust]

@abc3643 Oh no. The Auto/Manual wasn’t readily apparent or was the pilot stupid? Usually we don’t pass judgment on these things in the reports and say it needs further dummy proofing but when people die because of it…

Both.

[abc3643]

@love_conquers_lust
They didn't know how to turn that system off. Long story but ultimately the same root cause as the Challenger and Columbia accidents: Management being cheap.

[love_conquers_lust]

Being cheap switching to a material for O-Rings that had a different glass transition temperature than the originally budgeted ones.

They might tell you they were trying to get a bargain. How much return is in the flaming wreckage of their decision?

I remember going to Kennedy Space Center and thinking THIS might be the day they launch. Nope. Any little thing that is sub-optimal launch condition, they delay it.

Now we let other countries deal with strapping explosive fuel tanks to the butts of astronauts while Space-X is revitalizing our interest with unmanned launches.

[love_conquers_lust]

What do you think of redundant AI pilots on separate power supplies?

[abc3643]

@love_conquers_lust I do not trust any artificial intelligence system based on a neural network.

[love_conquers_lust]

What’s the major issue with it? Do you have an example? I’m thinking of things like search algorithms on youtube where you get more and more of what you consume whether it be bad or good.

[abc3643]

@love_conquers_lust Neural networks are trained for pattern detection. They are not logical.

Let me put it another way: If you cannot predict the output of a system, it should not be relied upon.
Logic leads to deductions which are predictions.

[abc3643]

Good old-school-but-limited AI is something called an "expert system". At least these are logical. My buddy got a PhD in using expert systems to aid control systems.

[love_conquers_lust]

Like 2 + 2 = Tacos?

Define logical. It probably wouldn’t have been considered logical for pre-Neolithic humans to strategically defecate near other fecal piles before they observed a pattern of flora growing in concentrated areas where they had been consuming

I look at the “AI” art and I don’t know how original it is or if it’s just emergence. It worries me when some videos claim “experts” don’t fully understand how it works as if it’s uncontrollable or if it’s just undeveloped.

It sounds like apophenia.

[love_conquers_lust]

You also specifically used deduction. That makes me think of inductive versus deductive reasoning. Expert AI sounds more deductive and neural networks sound inductive.

[abc3643]

@love_conquers_lust I don't think inductive really applies with neural networks. It's mostly pattern detection and prediction based on probabilities due to those patterns.

[abc3643]

I am not an expert in AI.
My forté is control systems; I need to be clear about that.
Control theory is a mathematical discipline.

[love_conquers_lust]

Same here on not being an expert. I read about it for fun.

Here’s some neat inductive reasoning. Right brain is more imaginative and left brain is more logical. If you could somehow maintain motor function while removing someone’s left brain, they probably wouldn’t be able to survive because they’d be unstable never retaining information or doing repetitive tasks. They might quite literally jump off a cliff thinking they can fly because they’d forget falling hurts. If you removed the right, the person would never learn anything and just sit there waiting for instruction as a blank slate.

I was schooled on negative feedback loops mostly. Didn’t get much beyond that in academia. I had a mentor who said derivative control is junk. We only used PI control. Deterministic.

[JacobJordan]

I own a laboratory and was the lead biochemist and director of operations. It was a good job though being the owner and director of operations while also trying to be lead biochemist was taxing if the 3 came to a head at the same time. Wasn't common but it happened a few times.

[Cynicaldreamer]

I'm an Assistant Coordinator over the Residency program here at one of the hospitals. Basically I babysit residents and faculty.

Yes, I like my job and most of the people I work with. The pay could be better, but I have decent benefits, all State holidays off, and my bosses like and respect me... so I can't complain.

[Sour-rose]

Get my ass up early, sit in my car at this hotel... and make sure no one throws another through someone's car. (security)

It's better what I had before... which was security but more annoying. While this job, the rules are very simple. Take pics every hour and sit in the front of the parking lot... or back

[IslaTheWitch]

I write software mainly, also work as first contact in case of emergency (system down) and train my own AI instance :D

For me, it's a dream job.

[Lyndsielee666]

Vet tech. I love it, minus the rude ass humans.

[Apple1996]

I'm a stay at home mom and nope it sucks. Only good thing is being able to spend time with my kids and them not having to go to daycare

[northerngal]

I am a Flight Attendant for a major airline. I love my job. Every day is different.

[NathanDavis]

manage... and yes, I've managed to like it, lol

[HighValue]

I'm a teacher. I like the vacation time, set work schedule most of the year, benefits, being in a comfortable air conditioned/heated classroom, and getting to do various activities instead of a job that is too repetitive.

[FenixG45]

I did a big job change. I used to be paramedic, but retired due to PTSD. I went back to business school and work for the government now. Typical government job, overworked, underpaid, overstressed. I love my colleagues and the public, but hate the job.

[Nikki1989]

It pays very well, and I get to meet new people every single day.

[midnightmoon05]

I have been teaching for years and love it. The pay is good enough and retirement is good.
My hubby and I also do other fun things on the side that pays pretty well.

[A_Bell]

I'm a mom. I do a lot of childcare, housework and baby baking. Occasionally do legal work for my Mom's law firm part time.

[abbyjgriffin98]

I'm a Security Officer. It is a pretty nice job, in theory. But lately, I have been wanting a change.

[KonkeyDong]

Oh heck, I asked a similar question earlier today.

I'm a Warehouse Auto Shift Leader. I lift and carry stuff and walk all day. I love it.

[CindyRuns]

I'm an engineer who develops chips !!!

I love my job !!!

[Darkest-Knight]

I work as a civilian for a major police service. Lots of computer work, assisting officers, adding information to the Canada wide computer system. Dealing with the public. And most importantly petting the police dogs.

I love my job.

[AviatorTom]

I'm an engineer in the transportation industry. I've had a long and enjoyable career.

[Simslover92]

Librarian at a mental health institution and I hate it.

[MissBoogus]

I decorate furniture stores. Move around pillows, accessories etc to maximize appeal and profit. It’s fun and I enjoy it. Feels like playing Sims everyday.

[RavVid]

Highly specialized in IT. 90% of the work is to get to do the 10% that is challenging.

[slatyb]

I write software. I like it but sometimes I think about becoming a professional counselor.

[Anonymous]

Stock trader. I LOVE my job! The returns can be massive. But the drawback is you're not likely to lose money with a 9 to 5 job. So you have to be kind of zen about it and tell yourself it's all about the avg.

[jamesgoldman]

Self employed mostly as a gold dealer and I love it enough to keep doing it for the little money I do make

[LavLavLuv]

Luv them all. Personal assistant, and I have my own businesses

[Anonymous]

art, yes. i am (surprisingly) making way more money than my friends.

[LiamJHayden]

Legal support. I like the money. The job itself can often suck.

[Joker_]

art, and nope

[Asker]

I feel it

[exitseven]

Somebody just asked this question.

[AmeerX]

I like my job. It's to manage the farm 😀

[TallAnon]

Game dev/programmer, it's mostly interesting.

[Worst]

Entrepreneur

[Anonymous]

LOST MY JOB RECENTLY... THINGS AREN'T GOOD

[Asker]

I'll pray for you homie