Supercomputer maker Cray Inc. has eliminated 52 positions as the Seattle company undergoes a restructuring, one that will allow it to invest more in software engineering, customer support and other strategic areas. “Our goal is to improve the competitive position of the company,” said Cray spokesman Nick Davis.
The company employed 885 people at the end of last year, with 132 workers in Seattle. The bulk of the remaining employees are based in facilities in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Davis said the layoffs were not concentrated in any one location. He added that the company could not hire in key areas of the company “on top of our current structure.”
“This was a very difficult decision for us,” said Davis. The company expects restructuring charges of $2 million for severance pay and other expenditures.
Cray’s supercomputers are used for intense mathematical computations, including automotive design and 3D modeling of earthquake activity.
John Cook is co-founder of GeekWire. Follow on Twitter: @geekwirenews.
