Microsoft Lays Off TypeScript Veteran Ron Buckton Amid 6,000-Job Cut Restructuring

Ron Buckton, a former senior software development engineer at Microsoft who contributed to the development of the TypeScript compiler and language service in native code, was among the 6,000 employees laid off by the company on Tuesday.

Buckton, who had served Microsoft for 18 years along with his team, helped TypeScript achieve a 10x speed boost in build times and editor responsiveness.

Microsoft recently announced the layoff of approximately 6,000 employees from its global workforce, describing it as an organisational change to better position the company in a dynamic marketplace.

Expressing his disappointment after the layoff, Buckton wrote in an X post, “Roughly a decade of that time working on TypeScript, I have unfortunately been let go in the latest round of layoffs.” He added that he needs time to process the news and thanked everyone who followed his journey.

“I need to take a few days to process before I start looking for work. Thanks to everyone who’s been part of my journey so far,” he said.

The laid-off employees also included Gabriela de Queiroz, director of AI and advisor for startups in AI. “Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs,” she wrote in an X post.

Microsoft layoff

Microsoft’s widespread job cuts follow the tech giant’s announcement of increased AI spending after its March quarter results.

This marks the second round of layoffs Microsoft employees have faced this year. The earlier job cuts were linked to performance-related issues but the latest round is unrelated, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC on Tuesday.

“We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace,” the company stated.

As of June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time staff. In a similar move in 2023, the company laid off 10,000 workers across various regions and levels.