Qualcom is forecasting 15% growth in Northern Ireland revenues for 2026 and creating five new Belfast jobs as demand accelerates for secure payment and retail technology services; the Belfast-based IT and cybersecurity specialist reported a 30% increase in annual NI revenues, driven by retailers investing in secure digital payment systems, loyalty platforms and online ordering technologies.

The expansion will take Qualcom's Belfast headcount to 21 employees, with recruitment already under way for a range of engineering positions, including on-site and field-based roles.

The structural driver behind the growth is retailers modernising card and app-based payments, loyalty programmes and online ordering, often across multiple locations, alongside heightened emphasis on secure connectivity and cybersecurity protections. Northern Ireland's cyber sector has continued to expand its research and skills base even as recruitment activity has slowed more broadly, per Queen's University Belfast's Centre for Secure Information Technologies.

Qualcom said demand has grown for engineers who can provide on-site assistance, helping retailers without extensive internal IT resources resolve issues quickly and maintain service continuity. Its staff-as-a-service model is also being used by organisations covering employee leave and periods of absence, alongside support for hardware procurement and device logistics across borders.

"As the retail landscape continues to rapidly evolve, there is a growing demand for resilient IT infrastructure that can support secure and streamlined customer experiences, regardless of how they may choose to shop," said Leeann Saunders, Managing Director for Northern Ireland at Qualcom. "Reputation is key in retail and it's vital that sensitive customer information remains protected as cyber threats grow."

"We are expanding our team in Northern Ireland to meet this increasing demand, bridge technical skills gaps and reduce pressure on organisations," Saunders said. She added that the company aims to work closely with customers this year to deliver enterprise-grade capabilities without the added distance.

For the sector, the investment reflects growing pressure on retail technology providers in Northern Ireland to combine expansion with visible cybersecurity assurance as digital payment and loyalty platforms scale.

Source: Qualcom / CFOtech UK / Queen's University Belfast (CSIT)