Tech firm Xilinx to create 60 jobs

Technology firm Xilinx is to create 60 jobs as part of a $50 million (€39 million) expansion.

The company is to take on 45 senior silicon and electronics engineering staff for its regional headquarters in Dublin and its engineering centre in Cork.

A further 15 people are also to be hired for a variety of roles with the company.

The US multinational currently employs over 250 at its European headquarters in Citywest where it operates a research, development, engineering and IT centre.

Xilinx is a leading provider of programmable logic devices with nearly 50 per cent of the total market share. The programmable logic device market is one of the fastest growing segments in the semiconductor industry

The new investment, which is supported by IDA Ireland, will support the company’s development work for advanced technologies and products.

“We’re very pleased with this investment, which endorses the quality of advanced engineering and product development work being undertaken by Xilinx Ireland where everyone is an important contributor to the global success of the corporation," said Kevin Cooney, managing director of Xilinx in Europe.

"This expansion will provide a range of valuable career development opportunities for experienced engineers, as we continue to fulfil our strategic development responsibilities in Ireland," he added.

Xilinx first set up in Ireland in 1995. In 2001 it also invested over €50 million in an expansion of its Dublin facilities as the company’s European headquarters. In 2005 it established an offshoot of Xilinx Research Labs in Dublin and in 2011 it acquired the Belfast-based telecommunications technology firm Omiino.

The company's headquarters are in San Jose, California. It employs 3,000 worldwide.