Microsoft is to create an additional 550 new engineering and AI research and cybersecurity jobs in its Dublin office.
The company said they plan to undertake “significant industrial research into AI to develop critical, leading-edge technology in the area of AI and cyber security, which will then be made available to public and private sector organisations all around the world.”
While the bulk of the new roles will be added over the next three to four years 120 of the jobs are available to apply for now.
“Ireland is undoubtedly an established hotbed of engineering and cyber security talent and leadership, with Irish universities producing some of the very best gradates,” said James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland site leader and corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre.
“And this is a significant contributing factor to both our success and continued investment here.”
“The creation of 550 new roles enables us to further strengthen our presence here in Ireland and take AI and cyber security innovation to the next level.”
The new roles will be in areas such as software engineering, applied sciences, product management, program management, data science, design, technical writing and analytics.
The positions will be across a range of multidisciplinary teams, including Azure networking and infrastructure, business and industry Copilot, customer success engineering and cyber security.
Microsoft already has a number of offices in Dublin, including that of LinkedIn which it owns, as well as a data centre in the west of the city.
“Ireland continues to prove itself as a location where the world’s most innovative AI companies build groundbreaking technologies,” said Michael Lohan, chief executive of IDA Ireland, which supported the investment.
“In line with government’s ambitions, by supporting innovative R&D projects like the one announced by Microsoft today, we are helping to shape the future of AI in Ireland and to harness AI as a driver for future economic growth.”
“This investment by Microsoft is set to deliver exceptional economic benefit alongside 550 highly skilled jobs at the cutting-edge of the AI sector in Ireland.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed the announcement, describing it as a significant boost for the AI ecosystem in Ireland.
“I very much welcome Microsoft’s announcement today.
“Not only does this highlight Ireland’s attractiveness as an investment destination, it also promises a significant boost for the AI ecosystem in Ireland.
“Fostering AI skills and advancing capabilities in the field are core to the Government’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and this project will help develop new specialist skills and expertise, thereby positioning Ireland for further investment in this critical area.”
Last year Microsoft cut its workforce by more than 200 as part of a post-pandemic retrenchment by the tech sector globally and realignment of costs.
This latest investment will bring the total numbers employed by Microsoft in Ireland to over 6,000.
In January Microsoft leapfrogged Apple to become the world’s largest listed company – worth close to £2.3trillion, writes John Abiona.
The two tech giants have been battling it out in the race to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Microsoft has become the most valuable company in the world by market capitalisation.
Photo from left, IDA Ireland Chief Executive Michael Lohan; An Taoiseach Simon Harris; Ilana Smith, Security Product Lead, Microsoft Ireland; and James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre
