Intel hiring for new Costa Rica operation

Multinational technology company Intel is recruiting professional and technical staff for its new research and development center in Costa Rica, which the company officially announced Tuesday in San José.

Intel’s Client Computing Group (CGG) will be responsible for developing new products that the corporation will release in coming years, including computers, tablets and smartphones. Intel Costa Rica’s general manager, Vincent Guglielmetti, said the company wants the CCG team to have end-to-end product development capabilities.

At a public event on Tuesday Intel’s vice president of the Client Computing Group, James Kirkland, said the main reason for investing in Costa Rica is its educational system and because local professionals have “the right skills and the ideal passion.”

The firm’s public and government affairs manager, Timothy Scott, said Costa Rica scored high in all criteria considered for selecting a location for the new unit. A highly educated population, as well as good Internet connectivity, good infrastructure and energy supply were some of the reasons for choosing Costa Rica, he said. The country’s relative proximity to the U.S. and the fact that it’s in the same time zone as Intel’s main locations in the U.S. also helped, he said.

A small group of employees is already working at the new department, but Intel has yet to determine the size of the team at full capacity.

The company’s website lists available jobs in Costa Rica for professionals and students in various engineering and business specialties. It’s looking for engineers with specialities in electrical, electronics, software and mechanics engineering. Jobs are also available for accounts payable staff and technical support agents.

Those interested in applying for one of the jobs can see the full list on Intel’s website.

The new unit joins Intel’s Global Service Center, which the company opened here in late 2014. The Costa Rica operation currently employs 1,900 workers, Intel reported.