Bazaarvoice has announced plans to create at least 50 new jobs in its Belfast office over the next nine months as the office is poised to become the firm's first international R&D lab.
Bazaarvoice has really made a name for itself in the NI tech scene since its Belfast office opened in 2017, growing to acquire 58 staff and helping to support local tech events and diversity invitiatives. The company develops a rating and reviews system used on retail websites around the world, and has been working on advances such as tech that uses AI to help spot fake reviews.
CEO Keith Nealon recently travelled from the firm's US headquarters in Austin, Texas, on his first visit to the Northern Ireland office, where he announced ambitious plans for the coming year. The Belfast office on Castle Street currently supports 58 staff, and Nealon announced plans to hire at least 50 more in the next nine months.
The new jobs will cover a range of roles, from software engineering and design to research and development, user experience, and business development. Belfast was initially poised to become a client service and support centre for Bazaarvoice clients, but after visiting the office Nealon announced that it will now become Bazaarvoice's first international R&D lab. The decision comes as a result of Belfast's rising position as a tech hub with highly qualified research staff available.
Commenting on his visit to the Belfast office, Keith Nealon said: "New product innovations and acquisitions focused on driving measurable results for our customers have extended our leadership position and set us up for the next chapter in our company story. I am excited to lead the business into its next phase and excited that Belfast will play a crucial role in the company’s global operations as we grow."
Belfast site lead and VP of R&D Seamus Cushley noted that Belfast will represent around 10% of Bazaarvoice’s global workforce by the end of the year if it reaches its recruitment targets. "The team in Belfast is creating business critical software that directly impacts how some of the world’s best brands run their businesses and interact with their customers," he explained adding "We are keen to recruit smart, curious, enthusiastic people from diverse backgrounds to join the team at this exciting point in our evolution."
Source: Written based on press release
