Meet TIER IV's cloud engineers
TIER IV People shines a light on the employees and teams whose unique experiences, backgrounds, and stories bring our mission to life. In this installment, software architect Eiji Sekiya assembled a group of engineers to share details about the kind of work currently being tackled by TIER IV’s Web.Auto team.
An alumnus of Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering, Eiji joined TIER IV in March 2018. With previous experience developing data platforms and applying machine learning in business contexts, Eiji currently leads cloud development. He has also worked on operation management systems and evaluation platforms for autonomous driving.
Taiwan-based Hideaki joined TIER IV as a site reliability engineer (SRE) in 2022. An alumnus of Keio University's Graduate School of Science and Technology, Masuda specializes in bridging edge and cloud environments for CI/CD processes. When time allows in his busy schedule balancing work and parenting duties for three children, Masuda enjoys karaoke and puzzle-solving.
An alumnus of Peking University's Graduate School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Li joined TIER IV in 2023. She came to Japan as an international graduate in 2012, joining a mobile application developer before a stint at a news app. With a wealth of experience in back-end development, she currently leads the CI/CD team.
With experience in back-end development for taxi-hailing services and autonomous driving tools, Riki joined TIER IV as an MLOps engineer in October 2022. An alumnus of Tohoku University's Graduate School of Engineering, Riki's an avid tennis player who regularly plays with members of TIER IV's tennis club.
Since joining the company in April 2023, Chris has focused on quality control for web and mobile applications. A graduate of The University of Auckland, Chris currently leads the QA team remotely from Hokkaido, northern Japan, where he spends his downtime enjoying outdoor pursuits such as mountain climbing and snowboarding.
— Tell us about your current roles and talk about some of the challenges you’re tackling.
Hideaki: I work as an SRE to improve the reliability of Web.Auto’s services. To be more specific, I’m in charge of reducing downtime during service releases, and I also lead projects to improve service level indicators, service level objectives and reliability metrics across multiple services.
A major challenge is global expansion. Web.Auto utilizes user data from automobiles and high-precision maps, and such data can fall under regulations governing the handling of classified information. Regulations sometimes prevent data acquired in certain countries from being exported to other regions, especially in autonomous driving.
We also have to think about how to approach architecture, development frameworks, and efficiency improvements moving forward. Another aspect is reliability. With Web.Auto, we need to tackle reliability not only on the cloud side but also on the edge side (the autonomous vehicle side). That’s what makes it both challenging and interesting to work on.
Riki: I’m an MLOps engineer developing machine learning infrastructure. The scope includes everything from data collection, data processing, annotation, training, evaluation, and finally deploying the model onto vehicles. The goal is to automate the entire process.
Recent challenges include the semi-automation of data retrieval and annotation processes. For data retrieval, we need to catch up with the latest large language models and incorporate them into the search process. For annotations, the current focus is on deploying tools in the cloud that rely on expensive models not easily usable in autonomous vehicles.
Chris: My role is quality control. SaaS products typically involve quality control that revolves around two axes: the front end and back end. However, at TIER IV, in addition to the front end and back end, there's another dimension: Autoware, the axis of autonomous driving. So, the integration with Autoware at the edge adds a whole new dimension. That’s what makes it so interesting.
I’m not an expert in edge or Autoware yet, so I collaborate with the Pilot.Auto Design and Test team to manage the overall quality of the system and work on improvements. I’m also involved in part of the evaluation process.
Li: I lead the CI/CD team. The most challenging part of the team's role is to build and operate the infrastructure that supports the evaluation of autonomous driving systems.
Figuring out how to effectively support such evaluations is probably the most important consideration going forward. With the wide range of development activities and the company's rapid growth, there's a high demand for infrastructure development.
— What made you decide to join TIER IV in the first place?
Riki: I had experience developing autonomous driving tools and was aware that TIER IV was probably the most advanced autonomous driving company in Japan.
My previous company relied on third-party firms for data collection and operation management. However, at that time, we felt limited by the interfaces set by other companies, and we couldn't fully achieve what we wanted. I applied to TIER IV because I wanted to work on autonomous driving at a deeper level.
Hideaki: I’ve always been interested in the field of autonomous driving, and given that my previous job was in the area of edge AI, I was already keeping an eye on trends in the sector. This technology will transform the world. I wanted to be involved in the practical application of AD tech.
What attracted me specifically to TIER IV is the company’s goal of making autonomous driving accessible to all. We want the whole world to help bring about this change. I joined TIER IV because I saw it as a company with a powerful vision.
Chris: I initially learned about TIER IV through acquaintances. A former colleague encouraged me to apply for a job here. I had experience in things like quality control and testing, and knew that SaaS products generally involve similar processes.
Li: When I was looking for a new job, I initially focused on companies that I was already familiar with, but couldn't find a suitable match. Then, a friend mentioned that there might be opportunities in the autonomous driving sector. The primary motivation for joining TIER IV was probably a strong sense of the future potential of the technology. Also, I love science fiction movies and the futuristic aspect of autonomous driving appealed to me.
Eiji: I also want to point out the significant strides we’re making when it comes to creating cutting-edge technology. This commitment is particularly evident in our engagement with AWS (Amazon Web Services) and ARM. TIER IV founder Shinpei Kato has spoken at the keynote of the largest AWS Summit in Japan. He also has links to top executives around the world, fostering invaluable relationships that provide insights into industry trends and developments.
— Can you share more details about the work style of your teams?
Riki: TIER IV entrusts a lot of responsibility to its employees. Team members work independently, fulfilling their respective tasks. There’s also a strong ethos of professionalism that is reflected in the fact that everyone contributes value to their own areas of expertise, and this ultimately brings positive results. Another good point is the high level of awareness towards design throughout Web.Auto. I feel that there are clear review criteria, which helps to elevate standards. Personally, it’s one of the things I appreciate the most about working here.
Hideaki: I work from Taiwan, and being able to work remotely has been a huge help for me personally. I imagine it might have been difficult to accommodate this arrangement, so it’s something I'm extremely grateful for. Without this opportunity, I wouldn't have been able to work at TIER IV.
Everyone on the Web.Auto team works remotely. Communication is conducted via text-based channels on Slack, and we make sure to keep thorough meeting records. It’s helpful that the company has created an environment where telecommuting is problem-free.
We get to work with a wide range of technologies. There's a lot to explore in the field of autonomous driving. Autoware is open-source software, which makes it a fantastic resource for people who are curious and eager to learn about various aspects of the technology.
The downside to having such a strong emphasis on ownership is the heavy reliance on individuals. Maybe it’s one of the aspects of working at a startup, but there’s always the concern about what happens if a particular person departs. As the company grows and the number of employees increases, I wonder if that overdependence on individuals will continue. However, things are working well under the current circumstances, and it’s worth noting that people with a strong sense of accountability and leadership skills will find ample opportunities to demonstrate their value here.
Li: The most attractive thing about this company is the feeling that we’re growing day by day. Not only in terms of personal development — the same is true for the team and the company. Also, you can experience making a difference in the world.
The ability to work remotely is another advantage. I have a two-year-old son, and at his age, he requires quite a bit of attention from mom every day. So, working remotely is really helpful for me.
Hideaki: It's really great to have the flexibility to adjust my schedule. I can fit in daycare drop-offs and pick-ups in between work tasks, which is very handy.
— What are your team members like and what kind of candidates would be a good fit?
Riki: What I feel makes someone stand out as a team member is the capability to take on responsibilities. I think individuals who consistently take the initiative and push things forward tend to shine. Having a proactive attitude is key.
In terms of the kind of people we want to bring in, our focus during recruitment is mainly on web technology skills. While expertise in machine learning isn't necessarily prioritized, we believe candidates can catch up on areas like machine learning and autonomous driving later on. We're looking for individuals with initiative, who can tackle abstract challenges head-on. Someone who can come in, get up to speed and work collaboratively as we strive towards our goals.
Hideaki: Professionalism is ingrained at TIER IV. I personally strive to embody this in my work, and I've observed that many others do as well. When it comes to the Web.Auto team, people take responsibility for their tasks and work with a high level of expertise, which is really helpful as an SRE.
In terms of technical expertise, I didn't have knowledge of the autonomous driving industry when I joined TIER IV, so I don't think experience is necessarily required. It's essential for newcomers to bring their own expertise to the table. As long as they're willing to catch up when it comes to gaps in knowledge. In such a broad technological landscape, no one knows everything. People who love learning about new fields are great to have.
Chris: As for the QA team, almost no one had experience in autonomous driving or the automotive industry before they joined the company, but we’re all playing an active role. Just because we’re an AD company, it doesn't necessarily mean you need experience in the sector. However, we want people who are prepared to dive in enthusiastically once they join. Also, understanding where defects may arise from a QA perspective is crucial.
Speaking as a foreigner in Japan, I can say for sure you’re not going to be subjected to unreasonable working conditions here. At TIER IV, I can take time off when I want, and I can even work remotely from Sapporo. It might be tough if you’re a foreigner who can't speak Japanese, though.
Eiji: As for creating a more friendly environment for non-Japanese employees, the company recently introduced English lessons on a trial basis, so that's a step in the right direction.
Li: The members of my team have strong technical skills and they’re a kind-hearted bunch. Even though I recently joined, they warmly answer my questions and teach me many things. As for our working style, as mentioned earlier, it involves bridging gaps in knowledge, communicating with many teams, and leading the design and development of features ourselves.
The approach may not be suitable for everyone, especially for people who don't particularly enjoy communication, which is particularly important for the CI/CD team. Without proper communication, it's difficult to understand the requirements. Of course, knowledge is necessary, but I think communication is essential for clarifying those requirements further while discussing how to meet them.
— Any last words?
Riki: There are plenty of opportunities to tackle MLOps challenges here. We've been rapidly expanding our development efforts over the last year, so we're looking for applicants who are passionate about machine learning and who enjoy trying new things.
Hideaki: It’s been interesting to hear each team share information about some of the challenges they’re facing. It got me thinking that it would be great to pick up issues across different teams and maybe try to tackle them together.
Li: Thinking back to the training I received when I joined the company, we all got an opportunity to ride in an autonomous vehicle. The moment the car started driving itself, I was truly moved and felt like I was glimpsing the future. It ignited a desire to share that sense of wonder with the world and work alongside like-minded individuals.
Chris: If you’re the kind of person who enjoys challenges, join the Web.Auto team! You can do lots of great things here!
For more information about cloud development at TIER IV, check out Eiji’s latest tech blog.
TIER IV is always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our journey. If you share our vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all, get in touch.
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