Amazon recently announced plans to open a new technology center in Tempe near Arizona State University’s main campus, which is projected to create an additional 550 jobs in the Phoenix metro area over the next few years.
Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said the new Amazon location reflects Arizona’s “highly skilled and growing workforce as well as our premier attractiveness for technology and innovation.”
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Amazon is currently Arizona’s third-largest private-sector employer. The new roles in the Tempe technology center will support Amazon’s operations in consumer retail, web services and operations. These opportunities are open for software development engineers, senior solution architects, project managers and business analysts.
“Not only do Phoenix and Tempe have an incredible existing talent pipeline, but this is a place where people want to move to as well,” said Doug Welzel, site lead for Amazon’s Phoenix Tech Hub. “We’ve already created more than 5.000 corporate and tech jobs in the Phoenix area, and we are excited to continue investing here.”
Arizona State University’s close proximity to the expansion center is no doubt a draw for the company. ASU is one of the largest universities in the U.S. and produces thousands of graduates every year that are looking to join the workforce.
Amazon officials have announced that the Tempe Tech Hub is going to be using two special hiring programs. Amazon Returnship is a program that focuses on helping professionals get back to work after they lost or left their jobs. The 16-week program is a paid opportunity available to people who have been without a job or underemployed for at least a year. At the end of the program, participants have the possibility of moving into a full-time position.
The other special hiring program being used is Best Fit, which allows engineers to apply once and be considered for thousands of jobs throughout the company.
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods believes that the investment “will continue to help Tempe attract more businesses and tech talent to our city.”
Amazon signed for a 63,000-square-foot expansion at 100 S. Mill Avenue, positioned slightly west of the ASU main campus. The office expansion is projected to be open for employees in late 2022.
This story was originally published at Chamber Business News.
