Chip company Solidigm to add 750 high-tech, high-paying R&D jobs to Sacramento region

Semiconductor company Solidigm will be creating 750 high-paying new research and development jobs in Rancho Cordova over a five-year period in what is expected to be a major economic boost to the Sacramento area.

Solidigm spokeswoman Catherine Roberts confirmed the 750 new jobs in an email Tuesday night to The Sacramento Bee.

The announcement is one of the largest corporate job gains for the Sacramento region in decades. .

“Solidigm is pleased to bring innovation and jobs to Rancho Cordova and the Greater Sacramento area, known for its highly skilled workforce and spirit of inventiveness,” said Solidigm CEO Rob Crooke in a statement. “We look forward to investing in and supporting the area’s economic growth and community through jobs, partnerships, and volunteerism.”

The total number of jobs in the 230,000-square-foot space Solidigm is renting in the White Rock Corporate Campus off Route 50 will be 1,900, Roberts said.

But Rancho Cordova’s gain could be Folsom’s loss. The bulk of those 1,900 employees, Roberts explained, will be hundreds of former Intel employees in Folsom that Solidigm is relocating to Rancho Cordova.

Even more jobs to come?

The real net job gain depends on Intel’s next move.

Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, told The Bee he believes Intel will replace the jobs moving to Solidigm, thus potentially making the net job gain as high as the full 1,900 jobs over time.

An Intel public relations official said he could not immediately provide information on job losses and replacements at its Folsom location.

Nevertheless, 750 new high-tech jobs in the region is a huge boost.

Solidigm was only born on December 29, 2021, a year after memory chip maker, South Korea-based SK HynIx, agreed to acquire Intel’s NAND memory chip business for $9 billion.

Solidigm is scheduled to occupy three of five buildings in the low-rise office building complex and an adjoining building down the street.

Solidigm considered Folsom

Solidigm officials had initially looked at Folsom locations for their new campus but could not find suitable existing buildings that could be renovated. That meant new construction over the course of several years.

Several company officials who were involved in helping the company look for its research and development headquarters said the company simply did not want to wait that long.

The officials asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to talk about the company’s move.

The first new employees are expected to move into Solidigm’s new research and development headquarters in 2023.

White Rock ready to roll

“They were interested in opening the doors in 2023 and we committed to working with Solidigm to make that happen,” said Cyrus Abhar, Rancho Cordova’s city manager.

Abhar said the White Rock office park site chosen by Solidigm also has room for an additional building, which was attractive to the company because of the potential for future expansion and even more jobs.

Solidigm is expected to pay $100 million to construct the new campus. The company’s corporate headquarters is in San Jose.

Broome said the landing of Solidigm will help cement Sacramento’s reputation as a place for the semiconductor industry and other high-tech companies to do business, moving past its traditional role as a state government center.

He said the new jobs will average $180,000 a year.

This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Chip company Solidigm to add 750 high-tech, high-paying R&D jobs to Sacramento region."