Allegro MicroSystems, which focuses on power and sensing semiconductor tech, announced Jan. 25 its intention to open a new office in Richardson’s Innovation Quarter—a 1,200-acre district aimed at attracting and retaining technology companies and startups.
"We are thrilled to welcome Allegro to Richardson with the opening of its newest design center in [the Innovation Quarter]," Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker said in a statement. "Their pioneering technologies are redefining the future of sensing and power innovations, and their decision to invest in our community and create new jobs is a testament to the strength of our local economy and the abundance of talent here.”
With plans to open this spring, the office will act as a “Sensors and Power Integrated Circuit Design Center” for Allegro, helping its research and development efforts in creating semiconductor chips. To help with that, company officials said they are looking to hire locally for positions, including engineering, design and product marketing. The company did not respond to questions about how many people it plans to hire.
Allegro cited the number of other technology companies in the area and the talent pipeline created by The University of Texas at Dallas as reasons for expanding to Richardson. The publicly traded company has U.S. offices in Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon, along with international offices in South America, Europe and Asia.
“We are thrilled to be opening our newest design center in Richardson,” said Suman Narayan, senior vice president of products at Allegro, in a statement. “The city’s strong talent pool and technology-focused community make it the perfect location for our newest design center.
Allegro joins a growing amount of semiconductor activity in Richardson. Earlier this week, UT Dallas unveiled its new Center for Harsh Environment Semiconductors and Systems, which is designed to produce materials and devices that can withstand extreme temperatures, radiation and extreme mechanical conditions, according to Manuel Quevedo-Lopez, the director of the center. That announcement follows Texas Instruments, which is headquartered on the border with Richardson, beginning production of semiconductor manufacturing at its latest facility within the city in the fall of last year.
“This move is another vote of confidence in our city’s thriving technology sector,” Voelker said of Allegro’s office plans.
