I do want to build autonomous vehicles, and I have the Ph.D. where I did just that to validate my ability - but, and this is a big but, I don't want to do it in Silicon Valley. There are plenty of excellent American robotics engineers available, but there are even more European, Australian, Japanese, Chinese, etc, who love their lifestyles and would rather work on something slightly less interesting to not have to move. The first hardware/software company that works out how to effectively handle remote teams and prototype hardware is going to dramatically increase their available pool of skilled workers. I for one would jump at the chance to work on something that compelling if I could do so from Sydney or Melbourne instead of California!
there is also Telsa, Ford, GM, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda, ..., Oshkosh (not the clothes), John Deere, ..., and even the military - all of which are actively investing in robotic cars
Tesla, yes. The others likely have too much to lose and are too large for me - I like a position with flexibility. And I don't want to work on military hardware.
