In January Tala reported that google sent a delegation to Jordan university to discuss the possibility of a new regional office. This month, Google posted 3 Job Positions in the (Middle East) region. These are under a separate category from job listings for its existing offices in Egypt and UAE. The open positions are: Site Director, Software Engineer, and Tech Lead Manager. The Site Director listing includes the wording (fit well in an informal startup environment) which implies a new site. Fluency in Arabic is required for two of the positions, and recommended for the third which eliminates the possibility of a European office.
Posts advertising the opening have appeared across the net on employment sites like Bayt, Monster, and blogs like Jazzarah and even Jordanblogs . Many are attributed to Executive Google Recruiter Nabil Khatib listed in (Linkedin) and (ZoomInfo). One posting dated last week appears on Jordan’s own Linux User Group. It indicates that Google is “strongly leaning toward a location in Amman, Jordan”.
A few days ago, I was discussing with a colleague what it would be like working at the Googleplex - Google’s 47,000 sq. m. HQ in California. Employees enjoy 3 gourmet meals a day, snack rooms packed with free chocolate, candy, fruits, nuts etc. Swimming pools, Foosball, and pool tables, Gym, Laundry rooms, beach volleyball court, and even subsidized massages. They get to travel in google’s own 767 jet, and are permitted to bring their dog with them to work! The Decor includes lava lamps and giant rubber ball chairs for relaxation. For more about the Googleplex, look here, here, and here.
If Google as a leader in search engine and internet technology, decides to go ahead with this move, it will be a great boon for Amman which is often overlooked by corporations in favor of Dubai or Cairo.
19 Users Commented In This Post
Posted from
5-31-2008 at 15:00:15
Good news…I consider Jordan the number one Web development destination in MENA region…so I think Jordanian really deserve it.
Posted from
5-31-2008 at 23:49:33
three posts only, I am sure thousands of CVs were sent!
Posted from
5-31-2008 at 23:58:07
MMM, absolutely, I work for a web dev. company myself.
Wasim, they don’t say how many of each they need. The site director job is probably unique, but I’m sure they need at least a dozen engineers.
Posted from
6-1-2008 at 09:17:54
What about their offices in Egypt?
Posted from
6-1-2008 at 10:34:05
2 notes:
First, Google’s Amman office (to be) will have nothing to do with the facilities provided in their HQ, it’ll be a localized version. People will go like “OMG I’ll work for Google” then find themselves in an environment not much different from a local IT company, or in the best case scenario, like a local office of another multinational IT company (MS or Oracle for instance)..
The other thing is, if Google are taking this step for cost reduction considerations, they’ll regret it BIG time!
Other multinational companies who already have a regional HQ in Dubai have opened an office in Amman (usually tech support, shared tech resources etc) thinking that they’ll get the experienced Jordanian labors at a cost less than what they would have to pay in Dubai, then after a while they discovered that it’s not as effective as they thought, and now slowly retreating to Egypt (at least until the living-costs’ hike hits Egypt too)…
Any idea why Google is taking this step?
P.S. Why I never get my name as a verification word, this is discrimination :k
Posted from
6-1-2008 at 11:56:05
It is good news. Hope Google manages to raise up the bar of IT company service and employee treatment along with salaries!
Posted from
6-1-2008 at 16:50:54
Mr Obeid, you’ve been tagged
http://www.triplem.host.sk/?p=208
Posted from
6-1-2008 at 19:34:01
Bakkouz, quite right, they also have an office in UAE. For some reason 2 offices don’t seem to be enough in EMEA!
Adoosh, I agree about the Googleplex. It’s just nice to dream about it. You know the saying, the grass is always greener on the other side! Besides being different in regards to work environment doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money. It can be as simple as allowing workers to come to work in Jeans (or in some cases dishadasheh!), offering them Hookah instead of coffee etc… Even if its only comparable to other local company’s work environments, it’ll be a good addition to the CV.
I hope you are mistaken about the second point because the American company I work for also came to Jordan 10 years ago hoping to save costs in a product mostly being sold in the US.
As to why Google is taking this step, I haven’t a clue. They don’t seem to be 100% sure that the new location will be in Amman, hence the word “leaning” in the recruiter’s letter. If you read the job descriptions they will be developing products specifically aimed at the Arab world, and they don’t only request Arabic fluency but good knowledge of Arab culture. Somehow I don’t think they’ll find that in Dubai, but I’m sure Egypt would have been sufficient. What do we have that Egypt doesn’t ? That is the question.
PS. I only included names with 4 characters or less in the antispam. Is Adoosh short for Adel coz that would work ? :)
Observer I am optimistic about this for once!
MMM I’m having trouble loading your site at the moment, but will make sure I check out the tag tomorrow. Thanks.
Posted from
6-1-2008 at 22:12:25
Yalla addem your CV :) Then send a postcard LOL! Pet KJs are allowed right? :P
Posted from
6-2-2008 at 09:47:35
What we have that Egyptians don’t is simply experience, commitment, maintaining a healthy work environment, and again commitment. With all due respect to Egypt and all Egyptians of course, but I’m talking from first hand experience here.
The company I work for is almost the same, a multinational company with HQ in Dubai and support in Egypt. They opened a tech resources office in Amman 3 years ago for the reasons I mentioned above (experienced ppl with low cost) and now they regret it, and gradually retreating back to Egypt. Every time one of Amman’s office quits they replace him.her with a new guy in Egypt’s office, and so on till eventually they shut down Amman’s!
Hookah at work? I don’t think so :D
Nope. Adoosh is short for Andrei :(
Posted from
6-3-2008 at 00:32:37
KJ, pet KJ and KJs pets are always welcome!
Adoosh, okay forget the hookah, can we have belly dancers instead ? :P
How about Andy?! :)
Posted from
6-6-2008 at 05:35:20
Allah yesma3 mennak!
Posted from
6-7-2008 at 09:43:12
MMM, tag answered.
Posted from
6-7-2008 at 09:43:38
Moey, I haven’t spoken to him in years, but I hope so too.
Posted from
6-25-2008 at 11:13:18
Salam,
I got to meet Nabil Khatib in a career fair few weeks ago. I had a long conversation with him and thought I would share his thoughts on some of the questions you raise above. None of this is official - this is what I got from him:
1- Google wants to draw on the talent in all the world. Thus, their way is to open development centers in different regions. So, this center in MENA will be very different from any other company - it’s not marketing or sales or support. The center will be responsible for whole project development. Talent will be recruited from the whole region.
2- The center will start with 1 director (dah), 2 or 3 product managers, and about 20 developers.
3- The two top desired locations were Cairo and Amman. Google is strongly leaning towards Amman now due to many reasons. It was a close call. however, it seems that Queen Rania’s address to a Google Forum in Europe has played a major role. Another was the entrepreneurial spirit in Amman - apparently the percentage of startup-like companies in Amman to sales/service companies is high compared to other cities in the region.
I’m very optimistic for this move and I hope it’ll go fine and then succeeds. I think this would encourage other companies of opening similar development centers in the region. This would boost Amman both economically, technically, and eventually culturally.
Posted from
6-26-2008 at 06:59:54
Mohammad, thank you for the valuable update. I share your optimism in this case.
Posted from
7-31-2008 (4 weeks ago) at 18:14:28
Google Confirms Amman, Jordan as New Location:
———————————————-
I hope are all doing well.
Writing you as a follow-up to previous emails I had sent out. I am happy to confirm that a decision has been finalized to launch the first such Software Engineering office in the Middle East in Amman, Jordan. Please feel free to post this update or to forward it to anyone on your email list.
I sincerely appreciate all your consistent help in reaching out to as many Arabic fluent Software Engineering professionals as possible in the Middle East region and worldwide. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to ask.
We are looking to fill the following Google positions to be based in Amman, Jordan:
* Engineering Site Director (Arabic Fluent)
* Software Product Managers (Arabic Fluent)
* Software Engineering Technical Leads/ Managers (Arabic Fluent)
* Experienced Software Engineers (Arabic Fluent)
If anyone within your personal or professional network is interested, please email me a chronological resume at: nabilk@google.com
Please do not hesitate to post or share these job announcements below with anyone or any group that could be interested.
Also, any referrals of specific individuals would also be most appreciated.
shukran!
Nabil
Nabil Khatib
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
nabilk@google.com
==============================================================================
Google Engineering Site Director (Arabic Fluent) - Amman, Jordan
Google is looking for a highly technical, hands-on Engineering Site Director to drive Product and Technology initiatives for the Middle East/Arab World.
As the most senior engineer for Google in the region, the Engineering Site Director will be the face for Google’s engineering effort in the region.
The Engineering Site Director will be responsible for the overall planning, execution and success of projects with both regional and global impact.
In addition to leading the engineering team or teams in the Arab markets, the Engineering Site Director will work closely with Google’s senior management team, as well as local officials, universities and professional organizations.
Please note that engineering management at Google is technical. Candidates are expected to have a strong track record of technical accomplishments in addition to management accomplishments. Consequently a candidate must posses a strong and broad background inmost aspects of Computer Science.
Candidates will be asked technical questions during your interviews.
Requirements:
* At least 10+ years of exceptional technical competence and accomplishment
* A strong product development track record and continuing and enduring technical leadership throughout career
* Software background and large scale success developing web-based applications, ideally launched in the Arab market
* Entrepreneurial drive plus demonstrated ability to achieve goals in an innovative environment
* Relevant experience as hands-on manager of a large fast-paced dynamic engineering team
* Solid leadership skills and success in building a strong engineering team
* Strong project-management skills and proven history in product delivery
* Ability to operate and thrive in the face of ambiguity
* Can fit in well within an informal startup environment and quickly establish credibility with very capable engineers
* MS in Computer Science/Computer Engineering or PhD
Please email a chronological resume to Nabil Khatib nabilk@google.com
Do not hesitate to share with anyone or any group that could be interested.
=============================================================================
Software Product Managers (Arabic Fluent) - Amman, Jordan
One of the many reasons Google consistently brings innovative, world-changing products to market is because of the collaborative work we do in Product Management.
With eyes focused squarely on the future, our team works closely with creative and prolific engineers to help design and develop technologies that improve access to the world’s information. We’re responsible for guiding products throughout the execution cycle, focusing specifically on analyzing, positioning, packaging, promoting and tailoring our solutions to all the markets where Google does business.
As a Product Manager at Google, you bridge the needs of our customers (users, advertisers and partners) and the creativity of our engineering teams. You combine outstanding product vision with the hands-on skills to work with engineers and deliver new products and features quickly to markets across the Middle East and globally. Google Product Managers come from a wide range of backgrounds: many have successfully run their own software/web companies whilst others have delivered successful products for large software companies. They all combine a great instinct for developing compelling products with a strong academic background and technical aptitude to work with a world class engineering team and the business sense to drive local product goals and strategies.
Responsibilities:
* Launch products
* Identify market opportunities and define product vision and strategy
* Understand customer needs and gather product requirements
* Develop new products and enhance existing products
* Engage closely with the engineering team to help determine the best
* technical implementation methods as well as a reasonable execution schedule
Requirements:
* Computer Science degree. Masters or PhD preferred
* MBA degree highly regarded
* End to end Product Management experience of software / web technologies
* Hands-on developing Internet products and technologies
* Entrepreneurial drive with appreciation of user-experience, business, and commercial issues
* Understanding of the Internet, Search Engine, and On-Line Advertising spaces
Please email a chronological resume to Nabil Khatib nabilk@google.com
Do not hesitate to share with anyone or any group that could be interested.
==============================================================================
Software Engineering Technical Leads/ Managers (Arabic Fluent) - Amman, Jordan
Experienced Software Engineers (Arabic Fluent) - Amman, Jordan
Software Engineering positions require a significant work history, experience developing web-based applications, expertise in data structures, algorithms, and complexity analysis, fluency in one or more of C, C++, Java, fluency in one of more of Shell, PHP, Perl or Python, solid working knowledge of Unix, preferably Linux, SQL and MySQL are a plus.
Applicants must have BA/BS in Computer Science, MS or PhD (a plus).
These positions require exceptional programming skills, excellent algorithmic and analytical skills, and a strong aptitude for building high-performance, scalable computer systems. Our recent work encompasses a broad spectrum of computer science research areas,
including: Large scale distributed systems design, Information retrieval, Natural language processing, machine learning and data mining,
algorithms and data structures research and user interface research.
To get a clearer idea about your experience, please briefly reply to these questions and email answers back to me with your chronological resume:
* What are your strongest areas of expertise and interest?
* What are your preferred programming languages? Please rate yourself in them as (beginner, intermediate or advanced).
* If working, how much programming do you typically do during a week in your last 2 or 3 jobs? Please indicate in percentage (%) form.
* Please briefly describe your experience and knowledge of the technology market in the Arab World.
Please email a chronological resume to Nabil Khatib nabilk@google.com
Do not hesitate to share with anyone or any group that could be interested.
Nabil Khatib
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
nabilk@google.com
Posted from
8-2-2008 (4 weeks ago) at 19:43:50
اريد كل البرامج الي عدكم
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