Cybersecurity and application delivery firm F5 has laid off 106 employees across its Washington offices in Seattle and Liberty Lake. This was disclosed in a state regulatory filing and later confirmed by the company, which said the reduction is part of a restructuring in its product organization to focus on “important customer needs” and strategic growth.
While specific department breakdowns weren’t disclosed, LinkedIn posts from affected workers suggest senior engineers and managers were among those let go.
Despite the layoffs, F5 remains financially strong.
It recently posted a 12% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue, reaching $780 million, with GAAP net income climbing to $190 million. These cuts come amid a trend of job reductions in the tech industry, with more than 80,000 layoffs so far this year, many tied to efficiency initiatives and AI-related restructuring.
Why It Matters: F5’s layoffs exemplify a growing disconnect in the tech sector: strong financial results no longer shield employees from workforce cuts. As AI and cloud services shift business models, even legacy firms like F5 are undergoing realignment. These moves contribute to the year’s ongoing trend of strategic layoffs aimed at increasing efficiency and competitiveness.
- Refocusing on Growth Areas: F5 said the job cuts are part of a realignment within its product organization, allowing it to redeploy resources toward its “highest business priorities.” While some employees were reassigned internally to focus on these strategic areas, others were let go entirely. The shift suggests a push toward next-generation cloud and security products, which continue to drive customer demand and investor interest.
- Layoffs Despite Financial Strength: Unlike many companies making cuts due to financial distress, F5 reported strong performance for the most recent quarter. Revenue rose to $780 million, up 12% year-over-year, while profits grew to $190 million. The company’s stock has also surged nearly 30% in 2025. These figures underscore that the decision to restructure is driven by strategic recalibration rather than fiscal shortfall.
- Seattle and Liberty Lake Offices Affected: The 106 eliminated positions were spread across F5’s Seattle headquarters and its office in Liberty Lake, near Spokane. While the company did not release a breakdown by location or role, reports on LinkedIn indicate the layoffs included senior engineers and managers, positions that often require long-tenured expertise and domain knowledge.
- Part of Widespread 2025 Tech Layoffs: F5’s move aligns with a broader tech sector contraction. Over 80,000 tech employees have been laid off so far in 2025 across hundreds of companies. While last year’s layoffs were largely seen as post-pandemic course corrections, this year’s cuts are increasingly tied to shifts in business models, automation, and AI integration that reduce headcount needs in key areas.
- Ongoing Restructuring History: This is not F5’s first workforce reduction. In April 2023, the company laid off 620 employees, about 9% of its global workforce at the time. Those layoffs also targeted product roles and were part of broader cost-saving and refocusing efforts. The recurring nature of the cuts reflects ongoing pressure to adapt in a fast-changing enterprise tech market, even for long-established players like F5.
Go Deeper -> Seattle-based cybersecurity company F5 lays off 106 WA employees – The Seattle Times
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs – TechCrunch
F5 laying off 106 employees in Washington state as part of changes to product org – GeekWire
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