Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) Australia is set to double staff numbers from 120 to 240 employees in South Australia over the next three to five years.

The announcement was made today at the official opening of CSC's A$12 million purpose-built Software Solutions Centre in Mawson Lakes positioning CSC as one of the largest information technology employers in the region.

CSC Australia president and CEO, Nick Wilkinson, said growth had been fuelled by an increased demand for high-level IT services primarily in the defence and natural resources sectors.

"We have a 30-year history in South Australia and aim to be an IT employer of choice in the region," Wilkinson said.

In South Australia, CSC has been involved in defence projects since the 1970s including JORN (Jindalee Over-the Horizon Radar Network), the Submarine Project, Nulka Active Missile Defence, Global Hawk and the Anzac Ship.

Over the years CSC has built a strong relationship with DSTO (Defence Science and Technology Organisation) and other South Australian based defence contractors such as BAE Systems and Saab Systems.

CSC's major commercial clients in South Australia include BHP Billiton and OneSteel. Other clients include Allianz, AMP, BlueScope Steel, Coles, Myer, and Rio Tinto.

The new Software Solutions Centre in Mawson Lakes is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, such as multi-network, fibre to the desk and voice over IP (VoIP) telephony systems. The new building also features hi-tech security systems, allowing a full-scope of IT services and software development work to be carried out for customers across different sectors.

The opening of the new centre in Mawson Lakes is part of CSC's national facilities campaign and follows the opening of similar centres at Macquarie Park in Sydney, Coniston Technology Park in the Illawarra and Subiaco in Perth.

CSC also plans to open a new campus in Docklands, Melbourne in 2009.

In Australia, CSC employs over 3,300 staff and last year achieved more than a billion dollars in revenue locally.

Globally the company reported revenue of $16.1 billion for the 12 months ended Dec. 28, 2007.