Global communications company AOL is to expand its Dublin development centre with the creation of 40 new software engineering roles over the next 12 months.

The 40 new positions are within AOL Networks, a team that is spear-heading the delivery of AOL’s programmatic advertising solutions for brands and publishers globally. AOL Networks brands include ADTECH, Advertising.com, The AOL On Network, Be On and Pictela. The announcement comes as AOL continues to expand its reach as a provider of digital content, advertising solutions and services through a wide range of brands including The Huffington Post, Engadget, TechCrunch and MapQuest.

“The new talent will help us expand our current suite of market leading products in display advertising into a comprehensive, world-class offering that extends across the whole digital ad ecosystem and will set a benchmark for others to follow,” said Aengus McClean SVP, global advertising technologies at AOL Ireland.

AOL has been based in Dublin for 16 years and currently employs 170 people. Dublin is the development engine for Europe and works alongside sister development centres in Palo Alto, Dulles, New York, Baltimore and Frankfurt. The company will be launching its 2014 Technology Graduate Programme in August 2013.