Software quality specialist SQS is expanding its Irish operations. To coincide with the company’s move into new office space in the Dublin Docklands, SQS has plans to take on 75 new hires during the coming three years. Of this figure, it is looking to recruit 30 high-skilled people by the end of 2013 – in both Dublin and Belfast.
SQS, which has been in Ireland since 2002, and already employs more than 200 people across its Dublin and Belfast operations, is aiming to vamp up its Irish workforce by more than 35pc up to 2016.
Digital ecosystem
The company confirmed this morning that its new offices will be based on North Wall Quay, a stone’s throw away from The Convention Centre Dublin, plus the ‘Silicon Docks’ area across the River Liffey where tech titans such as Google, Facebook and LinkedIn have their respective international HQs.
And not to mention the nearby ‘hubs’ for tech start-ups, such as the Docklands Innovation Park, the Wayra start-up accelerator on the other side of the river, HealthXL near Trinity College Dublin, and the latest hub for new digital ventures to co-work: the Liffey Trust building just on Sherrif Street.
The new jobs will encompass 50 roles based in Dublin, with 25 roles set to transit into the Belfast office of SQS. The 30 skilled employees SQS wants to hire by the end of the year will include software quality engineers, software testing managers, business analysts, performance engineers and software test analysts.
Since the Cologne, Germany-headquartered company set its expansion sights on Ireland in 2002, the company has been having year-on-year organic growth directly servicing the Irish market, with an average growth rate in employment numbers of 20pc.
Down near ‘Silicon Docks’
Riccardo Brizzi, chief operating officer, SQS Group; Phil Codd, managing director, SQS Ireland; and Dik Vos, CEO, SQS Group; at the company’s new offices in the Dublin Docklands this morning. Image via Naoise Culhane Photography
Commenting on behalf of the company, Dik Vos, CEO of SQS Group, said the continued expansion of SQS in Ireland is a “strong reflection” of the growth of the IT industry.
Vos said it also mirrored the increasingly “important” role that independent software testing and quality control plays in the rollout and ongoing operations of IT systems.
“As we all know, so many of these IT systems have now become almost mission-critical to our business and everyday lives,” he said.
Dublin’s latest, and fast-growing, ‘techie’ hub
Speaking ahead of the official opening of the new SQS offices, which will happen later today, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, described the company’s expansion as a welcome development and “another encouraging sign of the ongoing rise of Dublin’s Digital Docklands”.
SQS Ireland’s new Dublin hub features 4,000 sq feet of office facilities, including a training centre, IP-based high-speed communications facilities and fit-for-purpose customer hosting services, the company said.
Kenny has also commended the company for what he described as the contribution SQS Ireland is making through its graduate programme and its work in building links with third-level institutions spanning Ireland.
Window to global markets, and access to expertise
Barry O’Leary, CEO at IDA Ireland, has welcomed both the jobs news from SQS and its Dublin expansion.
“This expansion, to support SQS’ continuing strong business growth, will provide excellent career opportunities for talented technology professionals and graduates,” said O’Leary.
In Ireland, SQS says it is meeting the increasing demand for independent outsourced IT testing services.
Its customers operate across the vertical sectors, and come under the umbrella of financial services, manufacturing, utilities, retail and telcos.
