I'm a SAHM (3 DC) with ADHD that causes an unusually intense interest in certain topics. I like finding out the answers to questions, and so I found a sort of niche in this area, started keeping notes for my own use too, and have read quite a few of the studies. One of the main things that interests me is what to do/what makes a difference outside of the "ideal" scenario, e.g. it's easy enough to say in a crash test lab, a RF seat protects the dummy better than a FF one. Absolutely true, but what about the more unusual scenarios e.g. limited space to install the seat, a child with measurements outside the usual that the seats are designed for, additional needs etc. I also think it's too simplistic to say that people choose a "less safe" option, go against blanket recommendations or use car seats incorrectly etc because they "don't care" about DC safety or blame it on ignorance - I think it's actually very important to look at why people make decisions or behave in ways which go against expert recommendation and explore what would actually help them the most in their specific situation. I think that's important in all of life.
I got so into it that I did then decide to enter the industry, so decided I would try to go retail > brand rep/customer service > maybe somewhere in R&D, did a trial day at an ERF specialist retailer (which was fascinating) although ultimately did not get the job, basically because I didn't already have childcare in place. They said they liked me otherwise! Where I live (EU country) the nursery settling in process is prolonged over several weeks but nursery is cheap/subsidised. So I learned from this, got DS2 a place and then got a job at a chain baby store where I got a load more practical experience and did all their video training on the car seats/pushchairs I had access to at the time. Loved it, despite some stressful staff politics stuff, but had to stop work there on doctor's advice when pregnant during COVID pre vaccine, and then never went back, because by the time parental leave was up it was really clear DS2 had additional needs and needed my attention more than any money I could earn.
Then I was a mod on one of the FB groups for a while, which gave me a really interesting overview of the kinds of things people want to know about car seats or problems they typically encounter, and it was fun to hear some of the "behind the scenes" stuff from the admin (who were all retailers) but the politics did my head in, and I felt I was being asked to withhold information about FF seats because the admins didn't want to be seen to promote FF/suggest it is safe, as they felt strongly that only RF is safe (I disagree, although I agree it is safer).
Not sure what my future plan is now, I am unlikely to go into the car seat industry after all - it still interests me, but the locations aren't hugely convenient and DS2 needs me closer to home, so my knowledge is getting more out of date unfortunately. I am looking at training as an OT, since I discovered that an OT's job is really to look at those niche cases where people can't do the "norm" or the "recommended thing" so you look at what helps them personally, just on a much more varied scale than car seats! I do try to keep up with newer models, but the only practical experience I get with them these days is going into the shop and playing with the display models, so my knowledge is more in the theoretical area or I can point people to resources where someone who has actually handled the seat more than me can be consulted or is giving their opinion.
I have never called myself an expert although others do. I don't see it that way. I do try to refer back to sources without making my posts too wordy - don't always manage this as you can see!