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Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers

Employment Prospects

Employers

Drivers work for start-up companies (e.g., Waymo, Cruise, Embark Trucks, Via, Five) or for established automotive companies (e.g., Tesla, Ford, and Volvo), both of which are developing autonomous cars and technology.

Starting Out

Many people enter the field after obtaining many years of experience as professional drivers of trucks and buses. Others have backgrounds as test drivers of non-autonomous automobiles. Aspiring drivers can learn about openings by visiting the Web sites of companies that are developing autonomous cars or designing the software that operates these vehicles. Another entry method is to work as an engineering or software development intern at one of these companies and transition into a position as a driver.

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