Amazon To Create 800 New Jobs At Austin Tech Hub

Amazon announced on Thursday (March 28) that it is expanding its Austin Tech Hub, and will be creating 800 new tech jobs.

In a press release, Amazon said the jobs will be in the areas of software and hardware engineering, research science and cloud computing. Amazon said that since it opened its Austin Tech Hub, it has created more than 22,000 full-time jobs in Texas and has invested more than $7 billion in the state, including on infrastructure and compensation to workers.

“In the last four years, we have created more than 1,000 jobs in Austin,” said Terry Leeper, general manager of Amazon’s Austin Tech Hub, in the press release. “With a strong pool of technical talent in Austin and a dynamic quality of life, we are excited to continue to expand and create more opportunity in this vibrant city.”

The addition of jobs in Texas comes a few weeks after Amazon pulled out of creating its second headquarters, partly in New York City. Citing opposition from local lawmakers, Amazon said it wouldn’t move forward with its plans. Unlike local lawmakers in New York, Gary Farmer, chair of Opportunity Austin of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased that Amazon’s investment in Austin continues to grow. “This expanding presence is indicative of our region’s ability to provide creative and innovative talent. We’re proud to call Amazon a partner in our efforts to achieve regional prosperity,” he said in the press release.

The Austin Tech Hub is one of Amazon’s 17 North American tech hubs, housing more than 20,000 employees who are working on new products and services for the eCommerce giant. The Austin hub is focused on Amazon Web Services, Amazon Business, Amazon devices, video game design and advertising, among other initiatives. Amazon said it will expand into a new 145,000-square-foot Austin office in 2020.