Amazon is set to grow its workforce in Ireland to 5,000 people over the next two years, with plans for a new Dublin campus.
Today (27 July), Amazon has announced plans to build a new campus in Dublin to continue its investment in people, infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
The company will create 1,000 permanent “highly skilled” jobs throughout the next two years in Cork and Dublin. Its Dublin bases are in Blanchardstown, Tallaght, the city centre and north County Dublin.
Amazon will be hiring for engineers across software, systems and network development, optical deployment, database, DevOps and support. New positions will also include data centre technicians, mechanical and electrical engineers, solutions architects, security specialists, big data specialists, technical and non-technical programme managers, and account managers.
A number of technical management and senior leadership opportunities will also open up in both Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Amazon in Ireland
A new 17,000 sq ft campus is also on the way for Ireland. It will be based in Charlemont Square, Dublin 2, providing a home for the cloud computing staff at AWS. It is expected to open in 2022.
The company noted that between 2011 and 2018, AWS has contributed more than €2bn in capital expenditure and operational spend in Ireland, employing more than 2,000 people.
Now, in addition to today’s jobs announcement, AWS will also extend its partnership with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) in Tallaght and Blanchardstown. The company will fund a bursary programme as part of the collaboration, giving 40 students the opportunity to become data centre technicians.
Amazon is set to open a new delivery station in Dublin in late 2020 through which it will work alongside existing carrier partners.
The first of the company’s wind farm projects in Ireland will also come online this year. The Esk wind farm in Cork will be Amazon’s first operational renewable energy project outside the US, delivering clean energy to Ireland’s electric grid.
‘The right blend’
Speaking to Siliconrepublic.com, AWS Ireland country manager Mike Beary said that every team in the company in Ireland is hiring, from research to customer support, and that recruitment is already underway. He added that around 200 roles are open on the website already.
Commenting on the types of skills his team is looking for, he said: “We put a lot of energy into culture fit. We’re looking for people with the right blend of skills, from willingness to innovate to high judgement and an interest in listening to customers.”
“We are very excited that there is so much talent to draw from in Ireland and are looking forward to getting the roles filled as quickly as possible,” he added.
A fantastic investment from Amazon creating a further 1000 jobs in Dublin City Centre, Blanchardstown, Tallaght, North Dublin & Cork as well as remote working roles elsewhere. Also investing in a new campus at Charlemont Sq. Dublin. #WhyIreland pic.twitter.com/DI8tX88vkA
— Martin D Shanahan (@MartinDShanahan) July 27, 2020
Speaking about the announcement, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, TD, said: “This significant announcement from Amazon is very welcome news and is a huge vote of confidence in Ireland’s economy and workforce as we recover from the economic crisis caused by Covid.
“It speaks to our ambition to make Ireland the tech capital of Europe. It demonstrates our ability to continue to attract high quality jobs in growth sectors like digital.”
The new jobs are supported by IDA Ireland. IDA CEO Martin Shanahan described them as a “strong indicator of Ireland’s continued ability to attract quality global investment, despite the significant challenges created by Covid-19”.
Find out more about the vacancies at Amazon here.
