A Silicon Valley tech firm has set up a new base in Northern Ireland and announced the creation of 80 new jobs.

Harness, which provides technology for companies to speed up and deploy software products, said it made sense to locate in “one of Europe’s strongest technology hubs” where many of its customers are already based.

Around 30 of the positions are already filled but the company is on the lookout to fill a range of roles from graduate to senior level experience in engineering, user experience, management and customer success. The positions will be based on a hybrid model, working both from home and from the company’s Belfast base at Urban HQ.

“We are excited about the range of positions we are creating in Northern Ireland,” Jyoti Bansal, Harness co-founder & CEO, said. “Our team here will play an important role in expanding the Harness platform for our customers that rely on it to build and deploy their most important software.

“With many of our customers already located in the city, investing in our Belfast presence puts Harness in the centre of one of Europe’s strongest technology hubs. We look forward to seeing all the ways our new employees will contribute to the future of Harness.”

The announcement was made by economy minister Gordon Lyons.

“Harness is a fast-growing, innovative Silicon Valley start-up and a valuable addition to Northern Ireland’s technology sector,” he said. “It is cutting-edge, entrepreneurial companies like Harness that will help to shape Northern Ireland’s economic future and support my Department’s 10X vision where innovation will be the engine for growth in this decade.

“By establishing its European engineering office here, Harness will create 80 high quality jobs over three years. With hybrid working, people from all over Northern Ireland will be able to apply for these excellent opportunities. The positions on offer will attract interest across the experience spectrum – from graduates through to those considering returning and relocating to Northern Ireland to further their career.”

Invest NI said it has been working with Harness since 2019 and said the business will add to the 30,000 people who work in the ICT sector in Northern Ireland currently.