While other tech hubs get more attention, the STEM centre of Ireland should not be underestimated. Some of the world's biggest businesses in computing, pharmaceuticals and fintech have headquarters here, helping shape every part of our increasingly digital lives. With many of these organisations running great graduate schemes, now might be the time for you to get to know them. Read on to discover the top tech companies in Ireland.
Few tech companies are bigger or more influential than Google. Its powerful products and services have rapidly changed our world – and Ireland is at the heart of them.
The business has its European headquarters in Dublin, where it employs around 5,000 people. At time of writing, it is looking to hire over 200 more, with roles advertised in sales, software, marketing and many other areas. In 2023, the average salary was EUR 134,020, and while not all positions make that, it is a clear sign that Google is one of Ireland's top tech employers.
While this division of the company does not currently have a graduate scheme – it hired only 14 graduates in 2023, compared with 36 in 2021 – it is a fantastic place to go with a small amount of experience. What's more, it is serious about developing talent. With its Generation Google Scholarship, female STEM students can receive EUR 10,000 towards their undergraduate tuition fees.
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Pfizer
Vaccine pioneers Pfizer have been at the cutting edge of pharmaceuticals for close to 200 years. Their products save lives, and many of them are produced in Ireland.
Across sites in Dublin, Cork and Kildare, the company employs around 5,000 people. Its operations in the country extend from the scientific to the commercial, with roles connecting all along the supply chain. In 2022, it confirmed a EUR 1.2 billion investment in expanding its Biotechnology Campus in Dublin, and this will take effect over the coming years.
If you would like to work here after finishing your education, you may find the opportunity. Pfizer employed 158 new graduates in 2023, including 15 international graduates. While many will have STEM degrees, this is not compulsory. Whether you have a qualification in pharmacology or something entirely different, there may be a place for you.
Discover what to know before studying in Ireland.
Stripe
As well as providing a home to incoming tech companies, Ireland has also produced some impressive ones of its own. Pioneering fintech provider Stripe is just one example.
Founded by Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison in 2010, the company quickly became one of the biggest digital payment services in the world. In 2023, it processed more than USD 1 trillion in transactions.
Today, around 600 people work for the company at its Dublin headquarters. Many of these employees were previously interns. Stripe's internship programme is a key pathway into full-time roles, with four-month placements in engineering and other areas making you part of a top team from the start of your career. They may even help you find and pay for housing.
Intel
If you are reading this on a computer, there is a good chance that you are doing so with the help of Intel. As one of the world's biggest producers of processors, the company keeps our digital lives running.
Intel has operated in Ireland since 1989, and today employs almost 5,000 people in the country. All work at one of two sites: a manufacturing facility in the eastern town of Leixlip, and a research and development centre in the western town of Shannon. So, whether you would like to help make the computer chips we need or set up the ones of the future, you can do it in Ireland.
When Intel hires graduates, it does so in big numbers. In 2022, a total of 127 joined the company in Ireland, including 23 who had studied there internationally. That made it the country's second biggest employer of international graduates in tech, behind Amazon. The company is always looking for new talent, with currently advertised roles covering areas from AI to finance and beyond.
If the business of tech captures your interest, consider these reasons to study an MBA in Ireland.
ESB
Owned by the government, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is the biggest energy company in Ireland. It is responsible for generating and providing power for more of the country than any other business.
Almost 9,000 people work for ESB across its engineering, digital, business and finance departments. All are involved at a transformative time for the company, which aims to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2040. This is being driven by major investment in renewable energy, from solar to onshore and offshore wind. ESB even runs an expanding network of electric vehicle charging points.
The ESB graduate scheme runs across the country in all areas of the business. Each one offers a thorough introduction to the company and your profession, with a duration of two years in most cases. The exception is the three-and-a-half-year finance pathway, which includes exams for professional accreditation.
See how you could help the world make a green transition with these sustainable energy degrees.
Stryker
From replacement joints to cutting-edge surgical equipment, Stryker is at the forefront of medical technology products. The multinational company develops and makes many of these in Ireland, where it has operated since 1998.
More than 5,000 people are employed by Stryker across several sites in the country. Except for one in Limerick, all of these can be found in Cork. The area is from where the company leads its European work, and a place for which it has big plans. It recently applied for permission to greatly expand its Innovation Centre in the region.
Stryker's investment in the future extends to hiring graduates. The company runs a range of graduate schemes, as well as internships and co-op programmes for current students. These work placements cover all aspects of the business, from research and development to manufacturing and supply chain management. Co-ops take place in both Cork and Limerick, and may last for up to a year.
Microsoft
Another computing giant with a major presence in Ireland is Microsoft. The company behind Windows, Teams and the Xbox is one of the three most valuable in the world, and continues to grow.
Microsoft Ireland employs over 3,500 people from more than 90 different countries. Most are based at its state-of-the-art offices in Dublin. There, they work across a wide range of business areas, including software engineering, cybersecurity and digital marketing. Recently, the company announced plans to expand this scope with 550 new jobs focused on AI.
Development is very important at Microsoft, in more ways than one. For those early in their careers, it offers an internship programme, as well as graduate schemes in engineering and sales. Perhaps most notable, though, is its Aspire Programme. Seeking "top-performing graduates across a diverse range of disciplines", this prestigious scheme can kickstart your working life in a big way.
Make sure your employment goes well with our guide to international student work rights in Ireland.
Boston Scientific
It may not be the most widely known tech company in Ireland, but this biotechnology leader is vital to the health of countless people worldwide. Boston Scientific develops and produces many different kinds of medical device, including everything from needles to pacemakers.
The company has around 6,500 employees in Ireland across sites in Clonmel, Cork and Galway. This makes it the country's biggest life sciences employer, with long-standing facilities for research, development and manufacturing. Just over half of its staff here work in production, with the rest in administrative roles.
Many come straight to the business after university. In 2023, it hired 115 graduates, 10 per cent of which had been international students. One of the main routes in for these new employees was the Boston Scientific Graduate Programme, which seeks a wide range of applicants. Those with degrees in STEM, finance, business and supply chain management are just some of the many who could find a place here.
Now you know more about some of Ireland's top tech companies, you might want to consider how studying abroad can get you to them. Begin with our guides to the country's top universities and higher education system. Then, learn how to apply for an Irish graduate visa. You could even check out the most in-demand jobs in Ireland.
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