Google is going on a hiring spree in China
PUBLISHED ONJanuary 07, 2016 7:15 PMByArjun Kharpal
Google is looking to hire more than 50 people in China from software engineers to communications managers as it looks to jump back in to the world's second-largest economy.
A number of jobs have been posted on professional network LinkedIn dating back to December 7. Among these are a lead software engineers, advertising specialists, a public relations manager and even a business development manager for Google Play apps and games.
Google pulled its search service from China in 2010 after it said it was subject to cyber attacks from the country's government in a bid to censor content. Its Gmail service is also blocked, but Android is the dominant mobile operating system in the country.
In the search space, Baidu is the dominant player in the China.
Google said there are already hundreds of employees in China, and the new push is "average" for the past few years.
"We're always on the lookout for great new employees to join the hundreds of Googlers already working in China and the number of today's postings are about average for the past few years. Those employees are helping Chinese developers and businesses connect with the world's users, supporting the world's leading marketers as they use our advertising exchanges and networks in China, and engineering Google's global products," a spokesperson told CNBC.
Google has been slowly trying to edge back into the world's second-largest economy recently. In October, the U.S search giant invested an undisclosed amount in Chinese artificial intelligence start-up Mobvoi.
In November, reports circulated that suggested Google was aiming to launch its Play store in China this year. The hiring of a business development manager in that area appears to support that.
Google's aim will be to try and spread more of its software and services across China but will face a tough task trying to dislodge the dominance of Chinese players such as Alibaba and Tencent. It would also have to comply with the censorship of the ruling Communist party.
