Part of the WTIA’s mission is to grow a strong and sustainable workforce, which means we’re passionate about keeping local talent plugged into our state’s technology industry. In addition to our job board, every Wednesday we’ll be keeping you connected to Washington’s job market with the latest in local hiring news.

 

One Company’s New Minimum Wage: $70,000 a Year

New York Times | Patricia Cohen | Apr. 13

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/business/owner-of-gravity-payments-a-credit-card-processor-is-setting-a-new-minimum-wage-70000-a-year.html

“The idea began percolating, said Dan Price, the founder of Gravity Payments, after he read an article on happiness. It showed that, for people who earn less than about $70,000, extra money makes a big difference in their lives. His idea bubbled into reality on Monday afternoon, when Mr. Price surprised his 120-person staff by announcing that he planned over the next three years to raise the salary of even the lowest-paid clerk, customer service representative and salesman to a minimum of $70,000.”

 

Ex-Amazon Engineering Director Opens Office for Qualtrics in Seattle, Looks to Hire 100 Coders

GeekWire | John Cook | Apr. 9

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/former-amazon-engineering-director-opens-new-office-for-qualtrics-in-seattle-looks-to-hire-100-coders/

“John Thimsen, a former engineering director at Amazon.com who most recently worked on the Amazon Echo device, has established a new engineering office in Seattle for Provo, Utah-based Qualtrics. Thimsen left his gig at Amazon in February to join Qualtrics, and is now in the process of establishing an engineering center in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood with room for 100 engineers. The new office encompasses about 10,000 square-feet at 619 Western Avenue.”

Latest local job postings for Qualtrics

 

Expedia Left Bellevue to Expand. Is Valve Software Next?

Puget Sound Business Journal | Jacob Demmitt and Marc Stiles | Apr. 9

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/04/expedia-left-bellevue-to-expand-is-valve-software.html

“Bellevue-based Valve Software plans to nearly double the amount of office space it occupies.While the company is focusing its search for a possible new home on the Eastside it is also looking at Seattle, according to real estate industry sources who asked not to be named. Currently, Valve is in 110,000 square feet in downtown Bellevue’s Skyline Tower and could expand to approximately 200,000 square feet. That makes it the largest space requirement in the Bellevue market.

Latest local job postings for Valve

 

Clocking in Next Year, Juno’s New HQ Keeps a Hand on Seattle History

Xconomy | Alex Lash | Apr. 8

http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2015/04/08/clocking-in-next-year-junos-new-hq-keeps-a-hand-on-seattle-history/

“This week, rising biotech star Juno Therapeutics ended its quest for new headquarters, announcing a seven-year lease of 80,000 square feet in a to-be-constructed glass box in South Lake Union, Seattle’s biotech-rich neighborhood now dominated by Amazon’s new sprawling headquarters. Juno is expected to get the keys to the space in August 2016, though it might take a while after that to move in.”

Latest local job postings for Juno Therapeutics

 

From 15 to 115 Employees in 5 Years: Bellevue Startup’s Pivot Paid Off

Puget Sound Business Journal | Jacob Demmitt | Apr. 8

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/04/from-15-to-115-employees-in-5-years-bellevue.html

“Five years ago, a small Bellevue marketing startup decided to make a big change in the way it was doing business. Now, Pointmarc has nearly 115 employees, has outgrown its headquarters and, on Tuesday, announced it was acquired by marketing giant Merkle. By all accounts, the pivot has worked — better than even Pointmarc expected. The company moved into a new Bellevue headquarters last year, leaving extra room in the building that was supposed to take care of expansion needs for a while. But already, Pointmarc isn’t just taking over all that overflow space; it’s in need of even more room somewhere else.”

Latest local job postings for Pointmarc

 

List: More Than 50 Companies Set Up Engineering Centers in Seattle Region

GeekWire | John Cook | Apr. 8

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/list-more-than-50-companies-have-set-up-engineering-centers-in-seattle-region/

“Nearly every week, it seems that another large tech company is announcing plans for an engineering or development center in Seattle, gobbling up prime office space and top-notch coders along the way. Just in the past year, companies such as Apple, Dropbox, Uber and Palantir have chosen Seattle for new offices, hoping to mine the region’s rich technical talent… Today, we’re excited to announce a new feature on GeekWire, which tracks these engineering centers, and links to our past news coverage.”