Tessera Technologies, a micro-electronics developers, will expand its facilities in Charlotte over the next five years, adding 185 jobs as part of a $30 million investment plan, Gov. Mike Easley announced Thursday.
Most of the new positions are for engineers.
If all the jobs are created, the company would receive some $2.64 million in payroll tax rebates through the state’s job development investment grant (JDIG) program.
Tessera (Nasdaq: TSRA) makes components that are used in a wide variety of devices ranging from MP3 players to cellular phones. The company is based in San Jose, Ca.
Average wages will be $72,800 plus benefits.
“A key part of our economic strategy is to attract knowledge-based industries such as Tessera to expand in our state,” Easley said in a statement. “We are providing the trained, educated workforce that technology companies demand, and the high quality of life and good jobs that workers deserve. “
Tessera already employs some 100 people. The company acquired Digital Optics Corporation, which was based in Charlotte, in 2006.
“When we acquired Charlotte-based Digital Optics Corporation in 2006, our plan was to proliferate their wafer-level optics technologies into a broader range of applications that would impact people’s lives in tangible ways, and this expansion furthers that intention,” said Tessera Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bruce McWilliams.
“After considering a number of possible sites, Kevin Drehmer, general manager of Tessera North America, convinced us that the city’s emerging technology base, cultural vibrancy and positive business climate made it the ideal choice for this expansion,” he added.
The state’s Economic Investment Committee approved the JDIG on Thursday.
