CROSS-DOMAIN
COMPUTING
SOLUTIONS DIVISION
Hideaki H.
Driver Experience Business Unit
Parking System Development Department
General Manager
Joined Bosch in 2014
- Cross-Domain Computing Solutions Division (XC)
- SW Engineer
- Inexperienced in Industry
- Embedded Development
Attracted by active investment in new technologies and a bottom-up working environment
As a new graduate, I joined a precision equipment manufacturer. I wanted to make use of my knowledge of robotics, electrical engineering, and information engineering, which I had researched during my university and graduate school days. I was involved in circuit design and software development related to image processing until my mid-thirties, and I also experienced working overseas. The reason why I thought about changing jobs was that after a certain period of time, the company's policy changed drastically to limit investment in R&D for future products. When I was looking for an environment where I could take on the challenge of developing new technologies, I learned that Bosch was looking for engineers in the field of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).
I have known Bosch for a long time, and I had the image that it was a company with high technological capabilities in the development of diesel engines and brake systems for automobiles. When I actually had an interview, I was surprised to see that the organization was more open than I had imagined, and that Bosch is actively investing in new technology development. Based on a culture that embraces bottom-up business operations, Bosch has an environment where sites around the world can flatly exchange opinions and carry out manufacturing. The deciding factor for joining Bosch was that I felt the appeal of "being able to take on the challenge of developing new products and technologies that will grow in the future market".
Gradually shifted from experience in embedded development to the field of vehicle control
It has been eight years since I joined Bosch, and I am currently a member of the Cross-Domain Computing Solutions Division (XC Division) and have been the General Manager of the Parking System Development Department since last year.
At Bosch, it is not uncommon for people like me to change jobs from industries other than the automotive industry. There are many jobs where you can directly apply the knowledge and skills acquired in circuit design and embedded software development. On the other hand, after joining the company, it is necessary to continue to learn a wide range of new areas, such as the development process, related laws and regulations, and technologies that are necessary to fulfill the safety requirements for automotive products.
In my case, for the first two to three years after joining Bosch, I was in charge of tasks such as communication and memory management for embedded systems, where I could make the most of my previous experience. After learning the development process and safety-related technologies, my responsibilities gradually shifted to areas close to vehicle control (such as automatic emergency braking functions and parking assistance systems). At the same time, I was also gaining management experience. I was given the opportunity to take on new challenges one after another. It was a challenging experience, but I think I was able to step up appropriately step by step. Every day is exciting for me because I want to learn new technologies, and I feel that I have grown a lot as an engineer over the past eight years.
Working with experts from around the world to pursue the best in manufacturing for Japanese automakers
Considering the size of the global market and scale of sales, the Bosch Group's XC Division in Japan is currently a relatively compact organization. As a result, the duties and responsibilities of each person are wide, and you can expand the duties you are in charge of as much as you want. However, the appeal of Bosch is that it does not simply mean "wide and shallow". There are experts in various fields in Germany, Hungary, and India, and the new knowledge that can be gained through one's own efforts, such as global development trends, will be "broad and deep". For this reason, the technical skills of engineers can improve dramatically. A great thing about the Bosch Group in Japan is that there are good products and technologies. Therefore, there are opportunities to make a wide range of proposals to Japanese automobile manufacturers, and we are continually promoting development so that we can make the best proposals utilizing our diverse knowledge.
The XC Division is engaged in business areas in the automotive industry where there are not yet many experienced people. In other words, everyone has a chance to take on challenges. I myself am a prime example. I changed careers from a different industry and gained new skills after joining Bosch. There are a wide range of fields in which you can play an active role, as long as you have experience in circuits, embedding, and software development, and also have the desire to "take on the challenge of new technology". I hope that engineers, including those who might be a bit hesitant, will take the first step.
