Seattle data storage company putting R&D hub in Ireland

Seattle-based data management firm Qumulo is looking across the Atlantic for its next phase of growth. 

The company announced Friday the launch of a new European software research and development and customer success hub in Cork, Ireland, a move expected to create 50 jobs over the next three years.

Qumulo Chief Technology Officer Kiran Bhageshpur said Cork was “the obvious choice for us to build a team focused on leveraging AI to help businesses manage global-scale data infrastructure.”

Other Seattle-area tech companies also operate in Cork, including Amazon and F5. Apple recently announced a new office in Cork, with capacity for up to 1,300 employees. 

For Qumulo, the move comes as it works to maintain its edge in an increasingly crowded field of AI-driven data management. Founded in 2012 by the engineering team behind Isilon Systems — acquired by EMC for $2.25 billion in 2010 — the company has long been a notable part of the Seattle region’s storage and cloud sector. It raised a $125 million series E funding round in 2020, at the time giving the company a $1.25 billion valuation.

Since then, Qumulo has navigated a shifting landscape, including significant layoffs in 2022 as it prioritized a path toward profitability.

Now, under the leadership of CEO Douglas Gourlay, the company is betting that the global hunger for “AI-ready” data will fuel its next chapter.