[April 17, 2013] Apple looks to hire 7 in Orlando for chip work [Orlando Sentinel] Tweet (Orlando Sentinel (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 17--Seven Apple job openings in the Orlando area could signal that the computer giant is looking to develop computer chips in Central Florida for the first time. On Tuesday, the company posted a job opening on apple.com for a graphics processing unit engineer in Orlando. The other six open positions include a 3D graphics micro-architect, front-end design manager and other high-tech hardware jobs related to Apple's custom chips that power its mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad. "We are looking for someone who has a passion for getting new hardware up and running ...," reads one of the job descriptions. Apple officials did not return calls to the Orlando Sentinel. The jobs and Apple's acquisition of AuthenTec, a Melbourne-based mobile security company that designs biometric sensors for mobile devices, could be an indication that Apple wants to establish a stronger footprint in Central Florida. Apple in July purchased AuthenTec for $356 million -- its second largest acquisition after the $400 million purchase of Anobit Technologies in 2011. The AuthenTec purchase was a boon to Apple over its rivals at a time when security is becoming an issue on mobile devices and more enterprises are using iPhones and iPads for their employees. Central Florida is home to several high-tech companies, including EA Sports in Maitland; Lockheed Martin, mobile and Web application developers, cloud-based data centers, and other technology companies. The region is also known for its tech schools, such as UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and Full Sail University. [email protected] or 407-420-6262. Read his blog at orlandosentinel.com/techblog ___ (c)2013 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]