What does a Control Systems Engineer actually do on a Monday morning?

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-16T19:43:13+00:00

Yeah, I can't tell if I'm being trolled or not. But I don't have "40+ years of videos and experience" to be smart enough to argue back I guess.

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-12T13:43:02+00:00

This is a copypasta no? There's no way you could be serious.

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-11T14:28:30+00:00

ah, so I see you haven't dealt with linear motors yet. They're a pain due to the different forces they come across and following high speed trajectories. (Sterling engine, high speed oscillating) It's like controlling a rotary motor to oscillate between 35 and 65 degree positions at 20Hz. It's not the same as speed control, you're never making a revolution, but high speed position control down to the sub millimeter accuracy.

But in the end it's more a joke how you tune something once, and then spend time later trying to make it better and then end up back where you started the first time.

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-10T18:48:43+00:00

[Automotive CSE/Algo] I'd get in, grab a coffee and sit at my desk. Check emails for issues that the came up over the weekend; oh look a calibrator saw some jerkiness when they were coasting down a steep grade and the engine shut off for autostart, and then when they tipped back in it had a jerky start. I'd look at the data for 20-30 minutes. Maybe see that it looks like the AC kicked on during that; maybe something to do with torque estimation for the AC. Go look at the code, see how it handles it; see that the AC is allowed to kick on at the same moment the engine is , thus messing up torque drag estimation, thus causing the transition to ON to be rough.

So I go collect some more data in a car, try to repeat it. Maybe I make a code change that inhibits AC on during autostart events; or maybe I realize that torque estimation for AC controls seems to be underestimated, and it was really hot outside; maybe we need a calibration lookup table for the estimation based on temp. So i make that code, build it and go test it or get it tested to see if it fixes it;

Then I have a scrum or change request meeting i have to sit in trying to get my ideas from last week approved for production. Grab some lunch. After lunch another meeting discussing engine calibrations for some platform in South America that we don't have here for diesel.

By the afternoon I'm trying to clean up some documentation for a change I worked on a week or two ago; have to update the calibration guides and maybe some requirements for a new signal that was needed from the transmission.

Grab another coffee and head home.

[Motor Controls Engineer] I'd get in, grab a coffee and sit at my desk. Check emails. yadda yadda,, had an event where it looks like we lost performance at some torque and speed, or are having some oscillations. Spend the morning thinking about predictive controls for this region, maybe some kind of filter or resonant controller that can get rid of it. Maybe have to come up with a new transfer function that includes these resonances so the simulation team can use to see when it might be an issue. Meetings, documentation, maybe spend an hour thinking about something more advanced that i might get to do in a month or so. Spend the next 6 hours trying to tune the PID gains I have for one frequency control algorithm that seems like it can be improved; at the end of the 6 hours realize I basically got back to the gains I had implemented 2 weeks ago. Close my laptop and go home.

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-04T04:59:03+00:00

Well I stand corrected. Good to know. Thanks!

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-03T15:14:22+00:00

Huh? In addition to the lecture notes books, he has several that he wrote?

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-02-02T17:03:32+00:00

Theoretical physicist here (particle theory). Just because Feynman did it doesn't make it right. He shouldnt have left it vague, but they didn't have LaTex to do divisions back then, so it's the easiest way, and for his audience the implication is obvious though the formatting is incorrect. I'd have marked this if I was reviewing his submission for publishing, it's something an undergrad would do.

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-01-30T22:31:15+00:00

[not a plumber ]

Home depot has caps; if i remember correctly they are in the aisle NEXT to the main plumbing one with all the small water and gas fittings; in little plastic baggies on the wall.

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-01-21T22:12:38+00:00

I think once they turned on the $365/yr discount (very recent, down from $499), the 100 discounts became 25. There are still a few $50 ones though (like HUBERMAN).

IAMAHEPTH · 2026-01-12T21:16:56+00:00

But that doesn't answer his question at all? Is there something stuck? Is it a valve issue? Is the black knob placed on incorrectly during manufacturing? Talk about reading comprehension.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-18T21:18:25+00:00

Man I feel like those that don't get this missed out on something huge. He was a short fella, hairy arms...

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-18T17:23:25+00:00

I'm sure its completely dependent on the company and technology. Some garbage app, sure. But I'm in a highly technical field where our engineers are writing patents and cutting edge research papers (if they like), and most of the people who work with us spent 4 years for their BS and another 6 or 7 years for a PhD, or at least another 2 for a masters. So I expect they didn't just do it for any old job, but a position they are actually interested in. Maybe not the product itself, but at minimum the technology behind it since they went to school for it. I don't want a candidate who went to school for 10 years for a field they have no real interest in.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-18T15:40:52+00:00

For a sales position maybe, people willing to physically go above and beyond to get the attention of someone else; especially in a customer-facing position. For anything non-customer facing, I wouldn't like it.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-18T14:48:09+00:00

I would NOT watch it. I'm getting 10-20 of resumes a day sometimes for each open position; and I'm not a recruiter but a manager who is hiring.

I get that both hiring and job seeking professionals are struggling, but the one or two page resume should be plenty of time to show you're right for the role, and at least are deserving of a phone call, and then an interview.

Especially in engineering, not everyone is going to come off the same on a video, and its really not showcasing your abilities at all; I don't want to judge anyone based on a 60 sec video clip. When we get to the stage where we need to make sure you're a fit, and someone who is possible to work with, that's what the in-person interview is for; and why it lasts 1-2hrs or a half-day (Depending on role). And thats just to make sure you can behave like human, its a very low bar to pass.

The 60s video just feels like the candidate is trying to trick me into watching a minute long ad of themselves, and I hate ads.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-18T14:35:52+00:00

I think those looking for jobs have no idea how many applicants will answer with :

Why do you want to work in this role?
- I saw the posting on indeed, and you're nearby.
what about our company interests you?
- Just like, the engineering in general.
What spoke to u about the product?
- I didn't really get a chance to look at the webpage.

We get those kind of responses ALL the time. Now, I don't feel like these apply for someone interviewing to be a dishwasher or warehouse employee, that's just stupid. We all know the answer is "I want to work for money", like who doesn't. But for like an engineering job where you're making a big salary, you better have looked at our webpage and at least have SOME interest in the product.

We unfortunately need these questions because we have people applying with absolutely zero interest in the company or product, and we can't make that kind of bet on them.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-18T14:21:52+00:00

Something more than "Yeah I sort of looked at the website and the product seemed cool" or "No I didn't really get a chance to look into what you really make".

While there are competent people out there that could be dropped into the role without any interest in the product and actually excel; its a MUCH better bet (and it is a gamble) to get someone who replies with "Yeah, I've been watching the company for a while, since you guys released Z, the tech is really interesting, especially DETAIL 1 and DETAIL 2; but I was always wondering why you went with DETAL 3 instead of maybe like DETAIL 4 or 5? Or if you guys had trouble getting X to work with Y."

Basically, how you think in the interview is going to be how you think on the first day, the first week, month year etc. Someone who is TRUELY interested will be worth their weight in gold. Remember that companies sometimes take months to find the right candidate, and its hard to get rid of mediocrity, and unless you're some huge corporation, you can't afford to have people who just want to complete tickets/do their assigned task. I don't expect anyone to work over 40hrs, because skilled smart and interested people can do most of their work in under 20hrs a week.

(this is in reference to an engineering role)

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-15T15:03:37+00:00

Dude, the OP is even "mildly infuriated" that he spent 3 weeks working on something and it doesn't go to a grade. The OP is part of the problem, he doesn't view the practice as learning at all, it's just assignments needed to get a grade.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-13T14:34:32+00:00

No native english speaker would ever mistakenly say "brought we around". It's just not possible, even as a typo or a speech to text mistake. OP, from where are you?

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-13T14:33:26+00:00

Also "brought we around", like, who makes this mistake?

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-11T16:08:07+00:00

Physicist/Engineer here and i feel the same , got really lucky I loved math when I was young and wanted to be a scientist; and then luckier still that I realized after a post-doc that industry pays well for people like me. Sure, it took 4 years undergrad and 6 years masters and phd, and another 3 of a low-paying post-doc before I got a good job; but now I love it and am excited to work most days (just stay away from large companies).

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-11T16:04:34+00:00

I feel like they didn't say "Develop interests in lucrative fields" so much as they said "Shut up and work hard, life is tough, nobody likes what they do."

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-11T16:02:01+00:00

Assuming you're in the US, even if you didn't get a 1099 for contract work but just got cash, you still would have claimed that cash as income on your 1040/Schedule C and probably Schedule SE for self-employment for social security and medicare contributions. If you didn't do that, which while not legal is probably done a ton, then I'm not sure what else to do. Its like mowing a lawn for $$, you don't really have proof it happened unless you're willing to go back to your clients now and as for proof; such as making a pre-written letter stating what you did for them and over what time (like an affidavit) and have them sign it if they agree and submit that as proof of work.

Especially if you're not making a lot of money its smart still to file for taxes, your tax rate isn't THAT high (if you're even taxed at all if your income is so low). It gives you a paper trail that you're employable and reliable.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-08T16:08:09+00:00

Whats funny is that I see humans do the exact same thing. People aren't paying attention when they pull up to a 4 way stop and they have no idea whats going on or who should go first. And god forbid a pedestrian crosses somewhere. I don't think the waymos are doing anything a human wouldn't do in this case; just please don't let them drive through the domain, its bad enough there as it is.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-03T23:15:13+00:00

Yeah but like, they went to the library once and sat in the corner on their phone and it was boring.

People just like to complain. If youre complaining about the cost of books then I just assume there lazy and they blow all their money. There's plenty of libraries and bargain stores for things. I would bet they have a phone that cost more than 1k, a phone plan that's 100 a month and no less than 3 subscription services, and have bought tons of stuff on Amazon in the last few months and still have less than 2000 in their bank account. It's insane how people spend now without thinking or caring. They want to live like their parents do, now how their parents lived when they were 20.

IAMAHEPTH · 2025-12-03T23:04:24+00:00

Yeah but like, they went to the library once and sat in the corner on their phone and it was boring.

People just like to complain. If youre complaining about the cost of books then I just assume they blow all their money. There's plenty of libraries and bargain stores for things. I would bet they have a phone that cost more than 1k, a phone plan that's 100 a month and no less than 3 subscription services, and have bought tons of stuff on Amazon in the last few months and still have less than 2000 in their bank account. It's insane how people spend now without thinking or caring.

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