[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Samsung Electronics is stepping up hiring efforts in preparation for initial production and ramp-up at its semiconductor foundry facility in Taylor, Texas, according to industry sources and local media reports on March 3.

The company plans to increase on-site staffing at the Taylor fab to approximately 1,500 employees by the end of this year, with a longer-term target of 1,800 personnel to support full-scale production operations. Since November last year, Samsung has been relocating manufacturing engineering, infrastructure, and support teams from its Austin campus to the Taylor office building, alongside new recruitment efforts.

Originally scheduled to begin operations in late 2024, the Taylor facility faced two delays amid an industry downturn and slower-than-expected customer acquisition. However, with major client orders becoming more visible and local authorities recently reaffirming a year-end launch timeline, preparations for ramp-up have regained momentum.

In July last year, Samsung signed a KRW 23 trillion contract with Tesla to manufacture next-generation AI6 chips. The chips are expected to be produced using advanced 2-nanometer process technology at the Taylor fab once construction is completed. Industry sources also suggest that chips for NVIDIA’s robotics platform, including the “Thor” series, could potentially be manufactured at the site.

The Taylor fab is viewed as a key North American hub for Samsung’s foundry strategy. Amid a recent slowdown in U.S. semiconductor performance—Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s revenue fell 25% year-on-year to KRW 3.76 trillion last year—the new facility is expected to play a pivotal role in restoring growth and improving profitability in the company’s foundry division, which has struggled with losses in recent years.

 

 

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