Atlassian Layoffs Impact 63 Workers in Washington as CTO Steps Down Enterprise collaboration software company Atlassian is laying off 63 employees in Washington state, according to a WARN notice filed with state regulators. The company announced the cuts as part of a broader restructuring effort to shift toward an “AI-first company.” The layoffs affect approximately 10% of Atlassian’s workforce globally, with 1,600 employees impacted across the organization. CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes stated the decision is driven by the need to adapt to changes in the tech industry, particularly the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping skill requirements and job functions. The layoffs in Washington primarily target remote workers based in the state, with about half of the affected employees holding roles in engineering or data science. Atlassian’s Bellevue, Washington, office, which opened in 2024, is among the locations impacted. The company also announced that its Chief Technology Officer, Rajeev Rajan, will step down after nearly four years with the firm. Rajan, who was based in the Seattle area, previously served as a senior leader at Meta and Microsoft, where he oversaw engineering operations in the Pacific Northwest. His departure is accompanied by the promotion of Taroon Mandhana and Vikram Rao to key leadership roles within the company’s technology divisions. The layoffs reflect a broader trend of workforce reductions in the tech sector, particularly in the Seattle area. Other companies such as Amazon, Expedia, T-Mobile, and Smartsheet have also announced staff cuts this year. These reductions are attributed to efforts to address corporate “bloat” caused by the pandemic, alongside economic uncertainty and the disruptive impact of AI tools.#atlassian #mike_cannonbrookes #rajeev_rajan #taroon_mandhana #vikram_rao
Atlassian layoffs: Software giant to cut 1600 jobs amid AI shift Billionaire chief executive Mike Cannon-Brookes announced mass layoffs at Atlassian, cutting around 1600 jobs as the company navigates the challenges of an AI-driven industry shift. The decision, made via email, marked the largest restructuring in the company’s 23-year history, with Cannon-Brookes stating that AI is altering the “mix of skills we need” and reducing the number of roles in certain areas. Approximately 30 percent of the affected employees, or around 500 workers, are based in Australia, where Atlassian employs about 3500 people globally. Cannon-Brookes acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, calling it “among the toughest” for the company and expressing regret for the disruption caused to employees. He emphasized that the cuts were the result of a “thoughtful and incredibly thorough” process aimed at retaining staff with AI-relevant and transferable skills. Affected employees will receive a 16-week separation package, extended healthcare coverage for six months, and a $1000 payment for a new laptop. The layoffs come amid a challenging year for Atlassian, with its share price down 66 percent over the past 12 months to $75.45. The company’s financial struggles have persisted despite reporting 23 percent revenue growth in its most recent quarter. Atlassian has not recorded a net profit in a decade, with its net loss widening to $42.6 million in the latest quarter. Employee reactions to the layoffs have been mixed, with some expressing frustration over the lack of transparency in the selection process. One unnamed worker described the cuts as having “zero visibility,” noting that senior staff with strong performance records were let go while newer hires remained unaffected.#australia #ai #atlassian #mike_cannonbrookes #rajeev_rajan
