Stefan Ackermann is a proficient mechatronics specialist with a bachelor's and master's degree from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. In 2017, he commenced his Ph.D. studies at the Institute of Automotive Engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt, where he focused on dynamic driving task fallback systems for automated vehicles while contributing to the UNICARagil research project backed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Ackermann has published several scientific papers on automated vehicle safety. He joined Continental in 2023, where he is responsible for creating the Safety Assurance Framework for automated driving systems to guarantee safety throughout their lifecycle. This approach includes a comprehensive safety case assessment and the implementation of the safety management system. Ackermann's skills and expertise have been recognized, resulting in his appointment as Expert Safety Engineering for Automated Driving since 2024, where he contributes to the company's safety engineering advancements.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
As a professional in the field of automated vehicles, my primary goal is to promote the safe and seamless implementation of this innovative technology. I am proud to contribute to the advancement of the transportation industry by providing solutions that enable the efficient and reliable transportation of goods and people. It is very fulfilling to know that my work is helping to alleviate the shortage of truck drivers and improve the comfort and time utilization of drivers.
One of the critical aspects of my job is to ensure that the autonomous vehicle operates safely throughout its lifecycle. This includes evaluating the system's performance, identifying and mitigating potential hazards, and ensuring that the vehicle complies with industry regulations and safety standards.
I am thrilled to be working in the field of automated vehicles and am passionate about making a positive impact on the transportation industry. My goal is to continue to provide innovative and efficient solutions while ensuring the safety and reliability of the automated vehicles I work on.

As the Leader of Automotive Safety at Huawei's Munich Research Center, Raphael spearheads innovation in autonomous driving technologies. With over a decade of experience leading complex software projects for multiple generations of premium vehicles, particularly in the safety of intelligent driving, Raphael drives advances in key technologies for Huawei’s intelligent vehicle solutions. Together with a talented team of senior systems and safety engineers, Raphael focuses on the toughest challenges in the safety of self-driving technologies, applying cutting-edge engineering to achieve safe autonomous driving.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
A relentless technical push for practical solutions and the open-minded spirit of pursuing out-of-the-box approaches which can positively transform the industry.

Berzah Ozan is the Chief Functional Engineer – ADAS/AD at Ford Otosan with over 17 years of experience in the automotive industry.

Experienced Quality Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the semiconductors and medical devices. Skilled in Quality management, Product Development and Functional Safety. Strong quality assurance professional with a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) focused in applied physics from Université catholique de Louvain.

Head of safety and cybersecurity at ZF mobility solutions providing engineering and consulting services internally as well as externally with 18 years of experience within mainly but not limited to the automotive industry. PhD thesis in the field of safety for medical applications according to European regulations for medical devices in 2015. Since several years, head of safety for high performance computing platforms and safety and cybersecurity for autonomous transport systems. Highly specialized in IEC 61508, ISO 26262 and ISO 21448 for various automotive safety critical systems in areas of Autonomous Driving, Hybrid powertrain, ADAS, high performance computing, etc. Former member of the Autosar safety working group, co-author of the ZF internal global group directive for functional safety and working group member of ISO TS 5083.

Martin H. Hahn is the principal SW Expert at the Safety Center of Competence at the ZF Friedrichshafen AG. He gained his background in electrical engineering and information technology from Ruhr-University Bochum and received his Dr.-Ing. (Ph.D.) degree from RWTH Aachen University in Aachen. During his studies in Bochum, he specialized in RF techniques, digital signal processing, and medical engineering and worked for a leading manufacturer of RF measurement equipment in the U.S. In 2008, he joined the Institute for Mining and Metallurgy Machinery, RWTH Aachen University, as a Research Assistant, where his research topics involved safe automation systems for mining equipment using RF sensors for industrial applications conforming with DIN EN ISO 13849-1 and IEC 61508.

In 2014, he joined ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen, Germany, as a Technology Engineering Manager for power electronics, and in 2016, he started as the Engineering Project Manager for the new-generation automotive radar sensor, for ADAS and AD functions. In 2019, he became a team lead, holding multiple responsibilities in the fields of sensor technology, safety software for autonomous vehicles, and AD components. Throughout his career, his passion for safety grew, always with a practical approach.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2022, Continental generated sales of €39.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 57 countries and markets.

Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. With integrated solutions across four key domains – telecom networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services – we are committed to bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. Huawei's end-to-end portfolio of products, solutions and services are both competitive and secure. Through open collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create lasting value for our customers, working to empower people, enrich home life, and inspire innovation in organizations of all shapes and sizes. At Huawei, innovation focuses on customer needs. We invest heavily in basic research, concentrating on technological breakthroughs that drive the world forward. We have more than 207,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

Founded in 1959, Ford Otosan is the largest commercial vehicle production center in Ford Europe with a production capacity of 746,500 vehicles, 437,500 engines and 140,000 powertrains by 2023. Kocaeli and Eskişehir Plants are ranked among Ford's 'Best Vehicle Production Centers'.

Sony Depthsensing Solutions is a leader in 3D vision and gesture recognition technologies. The company’s DepthSense™ 3D CMOS Time-of-Flight sensors and cameras, together with advanced middleware, provide cutting-edge 3D vision capabilities for a wide variety of industries including gaming, AR/VR, PC, mobile and automotive.

ZF is a leading global technology group in driveline and chassis technology as well as active and passive safety technology. It has around 146,000 employees at around 230 locations in almost 40 countries. In 2017, ZF achieved sales of EUR 36.4 billion. ZF is one of the world's largest automotive suppliers. ZF lets vehicles see, think and act. The company spends more than six percent of its annual turnover on research and development, especially for efficient and electric drives and a world without accidents. With its comprehensive portfolio, ZF improves mobility and services not only for passenger cars, but also for commercial vehicles and industrial technology applications.