US software company Guidewire has announced plans to expand its Dublin operation with the creation of up to 80 new jobs.

The firm, which develops software for the insurance industry, said it will begin recruiting immediately.

It is looking for software engineers, developers, engineers, product managers and technical consultants.

It currently employs 150 staff at its Blanchardstown offices in west Dublin and is planning to lease additional office space to accommodate its expanding workforce.

The additional staff will provide support and product development resources to Guidewire’s international customers.

The expansion means the company’s Irish office will become its largest operation outside the US.

The company is headquartered in California but has had an operation in Dublin since 2001.

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said: "Financial services technology is a niche sector which we have identified as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, and in recent years we have seen significant jobs expansion in both Irish and multinational companies in this area."

Martin Shanahan, chief executive of IDA Ireland, said: "Guidewire Software is one of a significant number of international ICT companies using Ireland as a base to develop software products for the global financial services industry.

Guidewire's chief executive Marcus Ryu said: "We have been very pleased with the quality of talent and output from our Dublin office, and I regard our decision to start operations in Ireland as one of the best we have made in the last several years,"

"We intend to build on that success with a significant increase in our hiring plans and a deeper integration of our Dublin-based personnel into the career progression opportunities of the company, especially in Europe. "