Danilo holds a bachelor’s degree in Control and Automation Engineering from Universidade de Fortaleza (Brazil) and received his master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the traditional Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA - Brazil) in 2016 after completing a joint program between ITA and the aerospace manufacturer Embraer. At the aerospace industry, he worked at Embraer for 5 years, mainly as Systems Safety Engineer responsible for the functional safety assessment (according to SAE ARP4754A) for the development of the Embraer E2 family of aircraft (up to 146 passengers). After that, he joined the automotive industry at Continental AG in 2018 as System Safety Manager for highly automated driving, having acted as safety manager for several platforms up to SAE Level 4 AD. Within Safety, Danilo was appointed Expert Safety-in-Use for automated systems at Continental and is a reference within the organization for this topic.

Hagen Boehmert received his diploma in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hanover in 2007 before working within the automotive industry (focus on verification and validation) in Michigan, USA. After his return in 2010 he was employed as safety engineer for series development of chassis components before switching to Continental in 2013 as functional safety manager for automated driving. In 2017 his responsibility increased into systems engineering and in his new role he built up the team and knowhow in Yokohama, Japan. During 2020 he moved back to Germany as the head of safety and security engineering to lead the successful predevelopment within the Advanced Technologies in Frankfurt, Germany.

Martin Schels is an AI Engineer at Continental Automotive, where he works in the Research and Development department. Since joining Continental in 2019, he has been dedicated to advancing technologies in the automotive industry through his expertise in AI validation approaches. At Continental, he is involved in developing and validating AI systems that enhance vehicle safety, efficiency, and performance. His work includes collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate AI solutions into automotive products, ensuring these technologies meet rigorous industry standards. He is passionate about bringing new technologies into traditional industries, driving innovation and transformation. Before joining Continental, he gained valuable professional experience in the railway industry, broadening his expertise in applying AI to various sectors. In addition to his technical skills, he is committed to staying at the forefront of AI research and contributing to the broader scientific community. Martin Schels holds a doctoral degree in Computer Science.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
What drives me is the constant pursuit of innovation and the challenge of solving complex problems. I love my job because it allows me to work at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and real-world applications. Every day, I get to explore new AI validation approaches and see their impact on the automotive industry. The opportunity to collaborate with talented colleagues and contribute to advancements that enhance vehicle safety and efficiency is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that my work helps bring new technologies into traditional industries and drives transformation keeps me motivated and passionate about what I do.