An interview with Dr. Yang Xiao, Software Developer at 2getthere

When Yang Xiao talks about her work, one thing becomes clear: she believes strongly in what she is building.

For over three years, Yang has been working as a Software Developer at 2getthere, focusing on one of the most crucial parts of autonomous vehicles: perception and safety. In other terms, she helps ensure the vehicle understands its surroundings and knows when to act.

And when you’re developing fully automated public transport, that responsibility truly matters.

Building the vehicle’s “eyes and instincts”

“At 2getthere, we develop autonomous vehicles that are already operating in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and will soon be deployed in Mumbai, India,” Yang explains. “My focus is on the perception system.”

Her work revolves around two main areas:

• Sensor Calibration: to precisely determine and maintain the spatial alignment between multiple sensors with regards to the vehicle, so their data can be accurately fused into a unified, reliable perception of the vehicle’s surrounding environment.

• The Advanced Emergency Braking System, which perceives potential collision risks and performs timely decision-making and actuation to avoid or mitigate accidents.

“First, we need to understand what is happening around the vehicle. Then we need to decide whether something is a threat and determine what action the vehicle should take. For example, whether it needs to perform an emergency stop.”

You could say that Yang helps make sure the vehicle can “see,” interpret and react safely. “It’s part of the safety branch of the vehicle,” she adds. “We make sure the vehicle operates safely in its environment.”

That responsibility is something she does not take lightly. “You know that what you develop will directly affect real passengers,” she says. “That awareness makes you very precise and very focused.”

Different countries, different challenges

Autonomous driving is never one-size-fits-all. While the vehicles in Rotterdam operate in a semi-open environment with crossings and pedestrian interaction, the upcoming project in India brings new challenges.

“In Rotterdam, we have fences and controlled areas, but also many crossings with pedestrians and other vehicles,” Yang explains. “That already requires careful perception and decision-making.”

India, however, introduces a different dynamic.

“For example, the monsoon season can affect sensor performance. Heavy rain introduces noise into the sensor data, and we need to make sure the system remains reliable.”

There are also operational challenges. The new project requires very high passenger capacity, meaning short headways between vehicles. That increases coordination complexity and raises safety demands even further.

“That means the vehicles must operate very closely to each other while still guaranteeing safety,” Yang explains. “So, the perception, vehicle coordination and control systems must be extremely robust.”

“It’s exciting,” she adds. “Every project forces us to adapt the software requirements to a different environment. That makes the work dynamic and challenging.”

From university passion to real-world impact

Yang’s interest in autonomous driving started long before she joined 2getthere.

“During my university period, I was already very interested in this domain,” she says. “I wanted to work on autonomous driving.”

When she began searching for automotive or autonomous driving roles, the company quickly appeared on her radar.

“This company is doing something very practical in autonomous public transport,” she says. “And they have a strong R&D team working on real challenges. That’s what attracted me.”

Today, she feels even more convinced she made the right choice.

“If we want autonomous driving to become widespread, public transportation is the logical first step. It benefits many people at once. Once the solution matures there, we can expand further.”

For Yang, it’s not just about technology, it is about contribution. “You feel that you are building something meaningful. It’s not just research. It’s a real product that is already operating.”

Making it work

What stands out to Yang most about 2getthere is the mindset.

“This is a very pragmatic environment,” she says. “Ideas and brainstorming are always focused on one question: how do we make it work?”

In her experience, discussions are not theoretical. They are hands-on and solution oriented.

“We don’t just talk on paper,” she says with a smile. “We actually implement things.”

Because 2getthere operates as a medium-sized company working on a very large system, engineers cannot isolate themselves in narrow specialties.

“You might be more familiar with one domain, like perception,” Yang explains. “But you also need to understand the bigger system and think in a systematic way.”

That means frequent interaction with other teams and experts.

“If I suddenly have an idea during a discussion, I can grab a colleague and talk it through immediately,” she says. “People are open to that. Even if it doesn’t lead anywhere, you’re encouraged to explore it.”

She appreciates that openness. “It’s a place where your voice is heard, regardless of how long you’ve been here.”

A place to grow

Yang still loves her job. “No day is exactly the same,” she says. “There are always new challenges, new requirements, new environments.”

The combination of responsibility and freedom motivates her. “You are trusted to take ownership of your work,” she explains. “But at the same time, you are supported by colleagues with deep expertise.”

She also values the international environment and the diversity of perspectives within the team. “Different backgrounds mean different ways of thinking. That improves the final product.”

Seeing the bigger picture

While much of her work happens behind a screen, Yang knows it directly influences real-world operations.

“When you see the vehicles operating in Rotterdam, you realize that your code is part of that movement. Passengers step inside and trust the system. That is a powerful feeling.”

Looking ahead to the India deployment, she is excited about the next phase. “We are currently in the design phase,” she explains. “But during implementation and testing, we may need to be on site. Being there to see the deployment would be very special.”

Why join 2getthere?

For anyone considering a role at 2getthere, Yang has a clear message:

“If you’re passionate about autonomous driving and curious about how this business really works, this is a good place. It’s hands-on. It’s pragmatic. And you can turn ideas into something real.”

And that, ultimately, is what excites her most.

“We’re not building something theoretical,” Yang concludes. “We’re building a real solution for public transportation. You can see it operating. You can see the impact. That makes it meaningful.”