Huawei: Building a Global R&D Centre With Morgan McKinley’s Seamless Outsourced Recruiting

In 2019, as the global race to develop the latest AI and cloud technology intensified, Huawei, a world-leading technology giant sought to quickly expand its Research & Development presence in Ireland.

However, the process to do so was far from simple. Huawei had no local recruitment team and were facing a highly competitive landscape dominated by the "big four" tech firms already established in Ireland.

The organisation needed more than just a headhunter – they needed a strategic partner to build their hiring process in Ireland from scratch.

The complexity of the task was immense. Huawei required PhD-level experts in niche fields such as AI, cloud, and networking. These are profiles that are notoriously difficult to source and even harder to close as they are so in demand.

Beyond the talent search, the project involved navigating significant geopolitical headwinds, a negative employer brand within the EU, and the cultural intricacies of having a centralised headquarters based in China.

Over six years, Morgan McKinley Talent Solutions has transformed a disorganised hiring process into a streamlined, high-performance operation.

By embedding a dedicated team directly into the client’s culture, we have not only filled the gaps but have become a preferred strategic partner, recently securing a new two-year cooperation framework for 2025 and beyond.

Huawei Ireland is a global leader in Information and Communications Technology and smart devices. When they approached Morgan McKinley, they were specifically focused on the expansion and maturation of their Irish Research & Development (R&D) centre.

When the partnership began, Huawei lacked a local recruitment team in Ireland. They were also attempting to scale their operations in the country while battling several critical hurdles:

• Talent scarcity: A relentless demand for specialists in AI and cloud technology meant they were competing directly with global technology giants for a tiny pool of permanent talent.
• Operational friction: Disorganised hiring processes and communication barriers with China-based managers was leading to a disconnected candidate experience.
• Brand perception: A negative employer brand across Ireland and the broader European Union markets in comparison to Asia made direct outreach challenging.
• Logistical complexity: High-level hires required international relocation for entire families, while the contract workforce needed to be onboarded remotely across various European jurisdictions with full compliance.
• Moving targets: There were unfortunately frequent changes in headcount plans from a centralised HQ in China. This required a recruitment model that could adjust instantly, whenever needed.

The client chose Morgan McKinley Talent Solutions due to our unique ability to provide a full-service, on-site RPO model that didn't just fill roles but built the infrastructure needed for long-term success in a new region.

With the partnership, Huawei quickly gained access to:

• Embedded expertise: We deployed an on-site RPO team consisting of two senior recruiters fully integrated into Huawei’s operations. For a flat management fee, we took full ownership of the end-to-end process.
• An EVP transformation: We actively managed the employer brand in Ireland, optimising job postings and LinkedIn engagement to shift the narrative and deliver a premium candidate experience.
• Deep-network sourcing: Moving beyond standard candidate databases and networks, our team leveraged GitHub, Google Scholar, and niche technical conferences to find hidden PhD talent.
• Process optimisation: We implemented the necessary rigorous technical and cultural fit assessments. This meant we could bridge the gap between Ireland’s market expectations and China’s HQ requirements.
• Contractor scaling: We built a remote-first contractor model, navigating the compliance and logistics of hiring across Europe to ensure speed to market and quickly building a database of over 50 contractors.

Since 2019, this partnership has delivered exceptional value for the global technology brand, shifting the recruitment function from a cost center to a strategic advantage by establishing a market-leading R&D centre. With a centralised Managed Service program, Morgan McKinley enabled Huawei to rapidly mature its Irish R&D presence while maintaining total compliance and cost control.

• 344 total placements delivered, including 153 contract extensions
• 0-190 contractors hired and remotely onboarded across Europe, consistently maintaining a contractor base of ~50
• €6.5 million spend under management by the newly hired employees
• 2-year cooperation framework agreement signed in 2025
• The team was awarded Huawei’s Outstanding Achievement Award and recognised by LinkedIn for ‘Excellence in Recruitment’