Scripting reality: How sci-fi inspired a career in autonomous driving
International Women’s Day on March 8 honors the achievements of women around the world and promotes gender equality. At TIER IV, women across the company contribute to our mission of making autonomous driving accessible to all, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
To mark the occasion this year, we’re introducing employees whose backgrounds reflect the diversity and values of our organization. In this installment, backend engineer Qiong reveals how an early fascination with sci-fi movies led her into the autonomous driving industry.
Since childhood, I have loved watching sci-fi movies. On screen, it always seemed completely normal for cars to drive themselves, leaving passengers free to simply enjoy the ride. Back then, I assumed those scenes were pure fantasy – stories set in a distant future. I never imagined that one day I would be helping to build that future myself.
I majored in computer science at university, and in graduate school I conducted research in data mining. Eager to see more of the world while I was still young, I came to Japan from China in 2012 as part of a global graduate hiring program. The decision was also fueled by a passion for Japanese anime and an interest in learning Japanese, which began as a hobby during my university years.
I have worked as a backend engineer since moving to Japan. For the first eight years, I was involved in mobile game development, eventually leading projects as a chief engineer. Following a stint at a mobile news app, I joined TIER IV in August 2023.
Currently, as head of the Delivery Engineering Department, I develop systems that provide test and evaluation infrastructure for autonomous driving in cloud environments, as well as mechanisms for deploying tested software to vehicles over the air.
Autonomous vehicles are no longer just a futuristic concept from the movies. The technology is taking shape right before our eyes, and that realization is what attracted me to TIER IV.
Soon after joining the company, I had the opportunity to ride in a test vehicle, and I still vividly remember the moment the car began driving itself. Something I had previously seen only in films was unfolding right in front of me. That experience really reaffirmed my career choice as an engineer.
“The world of sci-fi films I watched as a child is no longer fantasy”
What continues to motivate me as an engineer is the enjoyment of seeing something I helped build being useful to others, or better still, bringing them joy. Whether in game development, news apps or now autonomous driving, that feeling has never changed.
Before joining TIER IV, my career had been entirely focused on web development. As a newcomer to the autonomous driving industry, I initially wondered whether my skill set would be transferable. While I needed to catch up on domain knowledge, I soon realized that the foundation I had built in web development was more useful than I had imagined. There are many areas where my past work ties directly into the work I am doing now, such as designing and developing cloud-based services, solving complex web engineering challenges, and optimizing service performance and costs.
If you share the desire I had to work in autonomous driving but worry about lacking industry experience, I strongly encourage you to take on the challenge. The skills you have built in other sectors could prove valuable here.
The scarcity of female engineers is something I have felt firsthand in the decade I have been working in the Japanese tech sector. It was not uncommon for me to be the only female engineer in the department, but it feels like things are improving gradually. Compared to before, more female engineers are entering the field, and I hope that even more will join advanced areas such as autonomous driving and AI.
My days as an engineering manager are demanding. Yet, even when work is hectic, satisfaction comes from working with such fascinating technology. Experiencing my own growth alongside the development of my team and the company is deeply rewarding.
The world of sci-fi films I watched as a child is no longer fantasy. Through autonomous driving technology, it is becoming reality day by day. Being able to contribute to that progress with my own hands is one of the greatest joys I can experience as an engineer.
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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.
Visit our careers page to view all job openings.
If you’re unsure which roles fit your experience, or if the current job openings don’t quite match your preferences, you can register your interest here. We’ll contact you when a suitable role becomes available and arrange an informal interview.
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