Part one covered Autoware’s growth, and part two focused on the challenges and rewards of open-source software (OSS) development. In this final installment, the focus turns to the company and the qualities we look for in new team members.
Gakuki: TIER IV has expanded to a team of around 300 people. What challenges have you noticed as the company has grown, and what goals are you working toward to drive success?
Kenji: We’re no longer at the stage where a single person can handle things alone. We now have to think about how to achieve results as an organization. Setting clear goals is crucial, and while we're still working on refining this, once the direction is clear, team members will naturally take ownership and drive progress. Ensuring effective management to support this is our current focus.
Takeshi: The System Integration team is closer to the field than the Component team, which focuses on daily Autoware development. That's why it's important for us to quickly provide feedback on potential issues that may not be apparent during the design and development stages. This feedback loop plays a key role in improving Autoware.
Satoshi: When I joined the company in April 2021, I often heard people on-site say things like, “I don’t know who to report this to, so I’ll just tell someone from the Planning/Control team for now.” Recently, this has improved a bit. Each module in Planning/Control now has a designated team member, making it clearer who to contact. It’s also good to see a process gradually taking shape where the System Integration team handles bugs up to a certain point and escalates them to the Component team when deeper analysis is needed.
Yoshi: The Sensing/Perception team holds weekly meetings to share goals, but the focus tends to be more on perception. I think we could benefit from working more closely with other teams, like the Planning/Control team, to hear their needs and make sure we're aligned.
Kenji: There are two perspectives when setting goals: technology development and product development. On the technology side, we’ve been clarifying a roadmap – defining which features to implement and by when. However, to generate revenue and build a viable business, we need to go further – considering which customers will benefit from each feature and what value it will provide. That’s something we want to strengthen moving forward.
Ryohsuke: When delivering a product to customers, it's important to ensure that what we deliver fully meets the required standards and that all necessary requirements are clearly defined, based on the milestones in the technology roadmap. We want to establish clear agreements so that we can confidently say, "This will be ready by this date."
Gakuki: There’s a constant stream of new arrivals at TIER IV. What kind of people would thrive here, and what kind of people would you like to work with?
Maxime: It would be great if there were more French people (laughs). At my previous company, we had quite a few PhD students. With remote work becoming more common, it's easier to work from anywhere in the world now, so I think we could definitely benefit from having more international team members, including those living abroad. This would broaden the talent pool.
Open source software works within a framework designed for global contributions, with communications conducted in English, so it should be easy for international developers to fit right in. Engineering skills, along with knowledge in robotics or autonomous driving, are highly beneficial.
Gakuki: Maxime, you're from an AI background, right? Did you face any challenges when transitioning into robotics?
Maxime: I come from a theoretical background in AI, but I didn’t find the shift to robotics particularly challenging. I originally joined my previous company as a researcher and transitioned into a robotics engineer there. The same thing happened at TIER IV. So, even if you don’t have a strong background in robotics or programming, you can contribute to Autoware in some way. What’s important is the ability to identify where you can contribute and understand what’s needed. Also, having a passion for solving problems is key.
Satoshi: I’ve worked in Planning/Control and System Integration, and through that experience, I’ve realized that being able to “get hands-on” is the most important thing. Autoware is evolving rapidly. Sometimes you'll come across a situation where a certain function doesn't work. When that happens, it’s important not to just get stuck but to take action – whether it’s modifying the code, observing changes in behavior, or troubleshooting through trial and error to pinpoint the issue. People who can persevere through this process will be a great asset to the team. On the other hand, it’s also important not to become isolated when you’re tackling a problem. Being able to communicate actively with team members is also key.
Kento: In the Localization team, the technology is already quite mature. For example, even if an autonomous vehicle completed 100 laps around Odaiba, interruptions due to localization would be rare. That’s why we often discuss ways to push localization even further – enabling vehicles to operate without a map or recover when they deviate from one. To achieve this, we’re looking for people who can explore alternative approaches. We want individuals who can stay on top of new technologies and drive research and development in emerging areas. Ideally, we’d like to bring in people with expertise not only in LiDAR, which we currently use for self-positioning, but also in cameras, odometry, GNSS, and other related technologies. This would help the team evolve even further.
Ryohsuke: In the case of the System Integration team, a lot of the work involves filling in the gaps when integrating what the development team has built into the final product. We need people who are proactive and willing to tackle a wide range of tasks.
Satoshi: It seems like the System Integration team is looking for people who can cover the whole gamut, from sensing and perception to planning and control, as well as the integration into the vehicle.
Kenji: Don't set the bar too high! Of course, we're happy to have people who want to take on a broad range of challenges, but you won’t have to do everything on your own. If you have a strong skill in one particular area, there are teams here where you can put it to good use. I've heard some people hesitate to apply, thinking TIER IV only hires the cream of the crop in autonomous driving. Even if you’re not an expert in the field, there’s still a place for you here.
Satoshi: That’s right! I didn’t come from an autonomous driving research background – I joined straight out of school. Once I started working, I realized that what really matters is having qualities you can apply here. Being proactive and self-motivated is key. People with these traits will find plenty of opportunities to thrive at TIER IV.
Kento: I think TIER IV is a great fit for people who are curious and open to exploring new areas, even if they don’t have much experience. The kind of people who make work fun are the ones who jump right in, saying, “I don’t know much about this, but it looks interesting!” I’ve always been drawn to mathematical optimization and geometry, but over time, my interests expanded to running calculations on actual data and making things move in real-world environments. It’s exciting to think that the optimizations I implement can directly influence how an autonomous vehicle moves. So even if you don’t have any experience in autonomous driving, as long as you’re interested in related technologies, I think we’ll have a great time working together.
Takeshi: I completely agree – interest is what matters most. Even without prior knowledge, if you're genuinely curious, you'll naturally start researching and learning on your own. Autonomous driving involves a wide range of technical fields, so anyone who enjoys technology is bound to find something that grabs their attention.
Yoshi: Exactly, being adaptable and proactive is really valuable. It’s not just about having expertise in your own field but also being curious about how other teams work and engaging with them. People who can quickly pick up new things, collaborate across teams, and drive improvements as a whole can make a big impact. Also, I personally appreciate people who are meticulous about taking notes. Some people document everything they do in detail, and I find that very helpful. If more people were note-takers, it would help create a knowledge base that everyone could build on, which would help bridge gaps between different levels of experience. It would also ensure that everyone can contribute and learn more effectively, and that’s a win for the whole company.
Ryohsuke: I like working with people whose radars are always scanning for ways to make improvements – people who seize the initiative. When they spot something that’s not working well, they step up and suggest how it could be better.
Kenji: TIER IV is a startup that is still evolving. In this kind of environment, if you just wait for instructions asking “What is my job?”, work won’t move forward. We want people who can step up and say, “If nothing’s decided, how about this?”
Gakuki: TIER IV has a democratic culture where everyone's opinion is valued, which is one of its strengths. However, in terms of speed, there can sometimes be challenges. In situations where things are unclear but we need to make progress, we need people who can be assertive and say, “Let’s move forward with this approach!”
Kenji: That’s important, but in open-source software development, balance plays a key role. It’s tough to gain consensus by insisting on a single approach. Having the flexibility to move things forward while being open to other opinions is also crucial.
Ryohsuke: Since our company is made up of people from various backgrounds, it's important to have people who can communicate and collaborate with an understanding of different perspectives and cultures. This kind of openness helps to create a productive and inclusive environment for everyone.
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 uncertain about which roles align best with your experience, or if the current job openings don’t quite match your preferences, register your interest here. We’ll get in touch if a role that matches your experience becomes available, and schedule an informal interview.
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