Over the past three decades, Ireland has emerged as a prominent global destination for research, development (R&D), and innovation. With its rising stature as the eighth most innovative EU country, Ireland has become increasingly attractive for organizations looking to undertake R&D activities.

This influx of major global players choosing Ireland as their base of operations has resulted in a wealth of job opportunities for R&D engineers in the country. In fact, in 2018, 13 out of the world's top 15 medtech companies established their presence here. The medtech sector, which currently employs nearly 40,000 people, stands as the second-largest in Europe.

Ireland has also earned recognition as a leading exporter of medical products in Europe, with annual exports amounting to €12.6 billion. Notably, one-third of the world's contact lenses and 50% of all ventilators found in acute hospitals worldwide are manufactured in Ireland. Additionally, the country is home to ten of the world's top pharmaceutical firms, with the biopharma industry experiencing rapid growth in the past decade.

This thriving environment translates into a multitude of contracting jobs available in research and development across various sectors, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, ICT, and financial services. For R&D engineers, Ireland presents a playground of innovation and opportunity, offering the ideal setting to bring their creative ideas to life.

Working in Ireland as an R&D engineer means gaining access to top-of-the-line technologies, state-of-the-art equipment, world-class facilities, ambitious projects, and a strong commitment to innovation. Furthermore, the collaboration between industry, academia, state agencies, and regulatory authorities in Ireland fosters a conducive environment for research and development.

Ireland's low corporate tax rate, along with its young, skilled, and well-educated workforce equipped with robust technological and business skills, plays a significant role in attracting R&D activities. The Irish government has demonstrated its commitment to expanding job opportunities in R&D through an €8.2 billion investment outlined in the Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation.

To encourage R&D endeavors, the IDA provides grant aid for projects and offers a 25% tax credit designed to incentivize companies to engage in new or additional research, development, and innovation activities in Ireland.

R&D roles can be highly stimulating, challenging, and rewarding. From a humanitarian perspective, R&D engineers stand at the forefront of technology development, making a real difference in people's lives globally.

This is an exciting time to pursue an R&D career in Ireland, given the abundance of job opportunities and promising career prospects. As R&D engineers progress in their careers, they have the option to transition into managerial roles, such as engineering managers or technology managers/tech leaders (principal engineers). Both paths offer rewards, challenges, and excitement. As a people manager, one would oversee the performance and development of a team of talented engineers. On the other hand, as a principal engineer, responsibilities include developing new technologies, shepherding projects from ideation to completion, enhancing existing products, and providing technical leadership.

This career trajectory may even involve patenting one's own products and reaching the level of vice president within a company.

The average salary for an R&D engineer with two to three years of experience in Ireland is €42,899 per year.

If you're interested in exploring the fantastic job opportunities for R&D engineers in Ireland, contact deirdre@hero.ie