From part-timers to professionals
Team members share stories about their first steps in the world of autonomous driving
Several TIER IV employees began their journey with the company during their student days, starting off part-time before transitioning to full-time roles post-graduation. In a recent round table discussion, five team members who navigated this trajectory covered a range of topics, from their motivations for choosing TIER IV to how they’ve developed into their respective roles.
Takahiro Ishikawa | Computing Team
Takahiro joined TIER IV full-time in 2022 after working part-time from 2020. He is currently working on research and development, specializing in Autoware-based operating systems and platforms.
Hidenaga Ushijima | Operation Tools Team
Hidenaga also joined in 2022 after working part-time on the development of autonomous driving management software when he was a student. He’s currently working on tools for the operators of autonomous driving services.
Kosuke Takeuchi | Planning/Control Team
Kosuke worked with us part-time from 2019 before joining full-time in 2021. He started out working on recognition algorithms and automated factory conveyance systems, and he’s currently involved in the development of route planning algorithms.
Taichi Higashide | System Integration Team
Taichi joined us in 2020 after a stint working part-time during his student days. As a team leader, he’s involved in research and development, focusing on recognition and automated conveyance systems.
Sana Yamazaki | Asset Management Team
Sana joined TIER IV in 2021 after working at the company part-time from 2018. Currently a member of the Asset Management Team within the Human Resources and General Affairs department, she manages contracts, facilities, and assets.
Shizuka Ono | Marketing Communications Team
Shizuka joined the company mid-career in 2019. She handles executive secretarial duties and public relations, and she served as the moderator of this roundtable discussion.
Shizuka: What attracted you to TIER IV?
Takahiro: When I was a student, I was a member of the Kato Lab [at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, where TIER IV CEO Shinpei Kato was an associate professor.] I’m interested in underlying software at what is known as the "lower layer," such as the OS. When I looked into fields that had the most opportunities for lower layer research and development, autonomous driving tech topped the list.
My immediate goal was to become a kind of super-hacker. I first thought about entering academia, as it seemed like one of the best places to achieve that ambition. I specifically chose a working environment that's deeply intertwined with academia. Although I received job offers from major tech companies, I decided to join TIER IV because it seemed closest to my ideal environment.
Hidenaga: I’m the opposite of Takahiro. I'm interested in higher layers, closer to end users. My family runs a taxi business, so it made sense to be involved in autonomous driving, a future transportation service. I wanted to be involved in the development of technology at the intersection between customers, autonomous vehicles, user interfaces, and data transmission. TIER IV seemed like the only place I could get hands-on and create such services. When I was still job hunting, I received an offer from a major tech company developing delivery systems, but I chose TIER IV because I wanted to be actively involved in the development of products.
Kosuke: Hidenaga and I are coming from the same place: the application side. I was originally in a robotics lab, but I enjoyed programming and making robots, rather than doing loads of research for the sake of writing papers. I was looking at tech roles when I was job hunting, and a role that involved making things move seemed like a good fit. Autonomous driving is something that will drastically change social infrastructure. It's a dream role — I thought it would be interesting to join the company.
Taichi: I totally get that. I was also in a robotics lab, but there was a lack of things with practical applications. Factory automation is something with real-world benefits. I was looking at companies in such fields. Factory transportation and “last mile” logistics were my main focus. I decided to join the company because TIER IV is utilizing cutting-edge technology to deliver products to users as quickly as possible.
Sana: I’m the only one here involved in administrative work. Unlike everyone else, there wasn’t a particular role I was aiming for when I was a student. At the same time, I wanted a job that would allow me to work toward a goal. I joined TIER IV as a part-timer and was fortunate to get the opportunity to play an active role in my team. I realized what a great environment I was in and decided this was the place for me. I wanted to develop professionally together with everyone at the company and work toward the same goal.
Shizuka: What did you think about TIER IV before and after joining the company full-time?
Taichi: When I was working part-time, the atmosphere felt more like a research lab. After joining, I was introduced to the administrative team and learned about TIER IV's business plan. I remember thinking, “Yup, this sure is a company.”
Sana: The office used to be located on a University of Tokyo campus, so it certainly had the atmosphere of a student club! Even now, it feels like one, but in a good way.
Hidenaga: I was surprised how well-organized it was. There was no real difference between the work environment when I went full-time, but the workflow with software like Jira and Confluence was completely unknown to me when I was a part-timer.
Takahiro: I didn’t feel much of a difference. The Computing Team has a vibe that’s different from other teams in the company. My opinion might be a little skewed, but it feels like we’re given a great deal of discretion. Every plan that’s created relies on the expertise of an individual and if that person hadn’t come up with the idea, it wouldn’t exist in the first place. Sometimes I wonder if it’s okay for a company to rely so heavily on individuals, but for me personally, it’s a lot of fun. It really does feel like an extension of a university lab at times. I’m thankful that I get paid to do what I love.
Taichi: Takahiro’s team is a special case. But I also noticed the high level of freedom when I arrived. Whether it’s the technology or methodology, what we choose is largely up to us. Of course, missteps are highlighted and corrected. One of the challenges is aligning the things I want to do with the direction the management team wants to take.
Shizuka: What changes have you noticed since you joined?
Kosuke: I feel the company itself is undergoing a huge amount of change right now. Funding is being raised, new projects are starting, and I’m being assigned more and more tasks and responsibilities. In terms of professional growth, I’m always gaining new experience and skills but I’ve also learned how to develop a team in the process. We need to communicate with a wide variety of people, and with open-source projects, we often have to work with people from outside the company as well.
Hidenaga: I also deal with a lot more people now. When I worked part-time, I only had contact with a handful of employees in mentorship positions, but now I touch base with loads of people, including supervisors who check my work and colleagues who use the things I develop. The amount of people involved makes me feel a greater sense of responsibility regarding personal development. And when I see a service I helped create being used by customers, it gives me motivation to work even harder.
Taichi: Another change is the way we’re able to deliver value to users now, rather than just conduct demonstrations. I can get a feel of what my research is doing out in the world. To tell you the truth, when I first joined, I was only concerned about my research and developing my knowledge. However, my mindset changed after I saw services being delivered to users. Working hard to achieve results for the company and our customers is what drives me now.
Takahiro: Generally, researchers dealing with lower layer OS development are not that interested in what goes on in upper layers and they rarely get involved with the end application. OS researchers tend to try to develop things that they consider “cool” and I used to be the same. As the company pushes ahead with the development of Autoware, it’s only natural that we regularly get hands-on with the application. Understanding how it operates helped me to think more meticulously about what features I could add. The most significant change for me in terms of development is that I’m now conducting research with my feet firmly on the ground.
Sana: From the administrative side, the company’s expansion never fails to surprise me. We often have to create new procedures from scratch to manage things. It’s a process of trial and error sometimes, but there’s no other choice. It’s enjoyable to figure out how things can be done. The fact that this is a startup is the reason I’ve been able to learn so much.
Shizuka: What are some goals you’re working toward?
Kosuke: I want to develop new functions and eradicate bugs to help us increase the number of areas in which autonomous driving vehicles can operate. It’s the kind of work where it’s clear when things are going well. I’m looking forward to seeing how our products and services evolve.
As for my career, I’m hoping to branch out into other areas rather than specializing in one particular field. TIER IV is still a company that is changing every day. I want to be as flexible as possible so I can tackle whatever comes my way. I’m trying to learn from people from various backgrounds rather than limit myself to just autonomous driving. Also, as TIER IV is expanding globally, I want to take on challenges all over the world.
Hidenaga: In terms of technology, I want to hone my skills in the development of interfaces, user contact points, and networks. My main interests are mobility and delivery services, so I’d like to gain experience in those fields.
Taichi: My immediate goal is to increase the value of autonomous driving as a product. It’s not just about the technology, either — marketing is integral to achieving this. I’d like to work with as many experts as possible to better convey the value of our products and services. And like Kosuke, I want to become an employee who can operate globally.
Takahiro: I don’t think there are many lower layer software researchers working on autonomous driving at the source code level. I’d like to take advantage of the position I'm in. I’m going to start a doctoral program for working professionals, and hope to submit a paper to a prominent academic conference. I feel like I’m in the best environment to achieve this.
Sana: I want to help build a management system that allows everyone to work with peace of mind and become a team member that everyone can rely on.
Shizuka: Do you have any advice for students who are job hunting?
Sana: Try a variety of things while you’re still a student and gain as much real-life experience as you can to broaden your horizons. That way you’ll naturally find what it is you want to do. TIER IV employees like tackling challenges. If you do too, you’ll fit right in.
Kosuke: Doing something you’re passionate about is the best approach. You can enjoy your work if it’s something you love doing. And even if you happen to have a bad day, you won’t get too disheartened. Whether you’re someone with a specialism or an expert in a range of fields, we want to work with all kinds of people.
Taichi: TIER IV is a company for people who are passionate about what they want to do. The focus is not on a specific kind of expertise, either. An obsessive dedication to your craft is what’s important. People with passive characters might not be a great fit.
Takahiro: I agree. This company suits strong-minded individuals. For engineers, I think it’s important to pick roles in which your interests are in alignment with the field you hope to enter.
Hidenaga: I’m on the same page as everyone else. This is a company that’s rapidly changing. I like working with people who enjoy this kind of environment. If you’re considering joining TIER IV, try working as a part-time engineer first. That’s the best way to determine whether it’ll be a good fit for you.
Click here to read this post in Japanese.
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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.
We’re currently hiring for the following related positions:
New graduate (Engineer)
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https://herp.careers/v1/tier4/dIahfv3paTSF
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