Engineering group Jacobs to create 100 jobs

The news follows the opening of the company’s new office in Sandyford, Dublin.

Jacobs, which has been operating in Ireland for 50 years, offers a number of services, including engineering, procurement and construction management. It currently employs over 1,200 people in Dublin, Cork and Belfast.

The business said the new roles set to be created over the next two years will be focused on engineering, construction management and project management, as well as commissioning and qualification.

The new hires will help to support projects in areas such as critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and semi-conductors.

Jacobs currently works with the Irish government, as well as companies in the private sector.

Infrastructure projects include the National Transport Authority’s BusConnects programmes in both Dublin and Cork, as well as the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade.

It is working with Cork County Council on the M28 motorway project, as well as Irish Rail on its east coast railway infrastructure protection programme.

Jacobs has worked with companies in the life sciences sector in Ireland, supporting projects such as the Edwards Lifesciences greenfield manufacturing facility located in Limerick.

“Jacobs decided to grow beyond the US for the first time in 1974, and we selected Dublin with the IDA’s support,” Jacobs CEO Bob Pragada said. “The business has grown from four or five key people to a team of 1,200 people in that time.

“Although we’re a global business, our operation here is an Irish success story. We have huge confidence in Ireland, and we are ambitious for our continued business growth here,” he added.

The company said it had supported the delivery of infrastructure projects worth more than €50bn since it established operations here 50 years ago.

IDA Ireland chief executive Michael Lohan pointed to the “close and enduring partnership” between the business and the state agency.

He said the IDA would continue to work closely with Jacobs to support them to “deliver sustainable growth and investment aimed at furthering the modernisation of critical infrastructure.

“Jacobs has delivered countless major manufacturing and infrastructure projects that have been central to Ireland’s economic success and societal progress over the last 50 years,” added Finance Minister Michael McGrath.