Smartsheet Joins Seattle’s Tech Layoff Wave, Cuts Hundreds Amid Market Shift

In a fresh wave of job cuts hitting the Seattle tech scene, enterprise software giant Smartsheet has announced another round of layoffs, marking its second major workforce reduction in less than six months. The Bellevue-based company, known for its collaborative work management platform, confirmed the cuts Wednesday in a statement to GeekWire, citing organizational realignments to better match “long-term business priorities.”

While Smartsheet declined to specify the exact number of employees affected, multiple LinkedIn posts from impacted workers suggest the layoffs span across several departments, including engineering, marketing, and project management. This latest move follows a similar round in October, when the company cut over 120 positions shortly after the departure of longtime CEO Mark Mader.

The layoffs come as part of a broader trend sweeping through Seattle’s tech ecosystem. Industry giants like Amazon, T-Mobile, Expedia, and Meta have all announced significant workforce reductions in recent weeks, contributing to a growing sense of unease in the region’s once-booming tech sector. Amazon alone is cutting 2,198 jobs across Washington, with more than half in core product and engineering roles, while T-Mobile has eliminated 393 positions statewide, including several vice president-level roles.

Smartsheet’s decision to downsize reflects a wider corporate strategy to address what many analysts describe as pandemic-fueled “bloat.” Companies across the tech industry are tightening their belts amid economic uncertainty, rising interest rates, and the disruptive impact of AI-driven automation. For Smartsheet, the timing is particularly notable given its recent transition from public to private ownership.

In 2025, Vista Equity Partners and Blackstone acquired Smartsheet in an $8.4 billion deal, taking the company private after its 2018 IPO. The move was seen as a strategic play to give the company more flexibility in navigating a competitive and rapidly evolving market. Smartsheet’s core product—helping businesses organize, track, and manage work—places it in direct competition with heavyweights like Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce, as well as agile challengers such as Asana, Monday.com, Airtable, and ClickUp.

The leadership changes at Smartsheet may also be influencing its restructuring efforts. In October, tech veteran Rajeev “Raj” Singh, co-founder of Concur, stepped in as CEO, replacing Mader, who had led the company for over a decade. Singh, who previously guided health benefits tech company Accolade through its IPO and acquisition, brings a wealth of enterprise software experience to the role. His appointment follows a brief stint as acting CEO by Sunny Gupta, co-founder of Apptio and a prominent figure in Seattle’s tech community, who now serves as executive chair.

Despite the layoffs, Smartsheet remains a formidable player in the enterprise software space. The company boasts 16.7 million active users and generates over $1 billion in annual revenue. However, the competitive landscape is intensifying, with AI-powered tools and shifting workplace dynamics forcing companies to rethink their strategies and resource allocations.

The broader implications of these layoffs extend beyond individual companies. Seattle, once a beacon of tech prosperity, is now grappling with a wave of economic uncertainty. The city’s tech boom, fueled by pandemic-era growth, is giving way to a more cautious and competitive environment. As companies like Smartsheet recalibrate their operations, the ripple effects are being felt across the local economy, from real estate to retail.

For the affected employees, Smartsheet has pledged to provide severance packages and continued healthcare options to support them during the transition. However, the emotional and financial toll of job loss in a tightening market cannot be understated. As one impacted worker noted on LinkedIn, “It’s a tough time, but I’m grateful for the support and looking forward to the next chapter.”

The layoffs at Smartsheet and other Seattle tech firms underscore a pivotal moment for the industry. As companies navigate the dual pressures of economic headwinds and technological disruption, the focus is shifting from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable, strategic scaling. For Smartsheet, this means doubling down on its core strengths while adapting to a market that demands agility and innovation.

As the dust settles, all eyes will be on how Smartsheet and its peers emerge from this period of transformation. Will the cuts prove to be a necessary reset, positioning these companies for long-term success? Or are they a harbinger of deeper challenges ahead? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the Seattle tech scene is at a crossroads, and the decisions made today will shape its future for years to come.

Tags & Viral Phrases:
Smartsheet layoffs, Seattle tech layoffs, enterprise software cuts, Raj Singh CEO, Vista Equity Partners, Blackstone acquisition, pandemic corporate bloat, AI-driven automation, Microsoft Teams competitor, Asana vs Smartsheet, ClickUp rivalry, Monday.com competition, T-Mobile job cuts, Amazon layoffs Washington, Expedia layoffs, Meta Reality Labs cuts, Sunny Gupta Apptio, Concur co-founder, enterprise work management, Smartsheet revenue billion, Smartsheet active users, Seattle tech economy, tech sector downturn, corporate restructuring 2026, workforce reduction strategy, economic uncertainty tech, AI impact jobs, Smartsheet Engage conference, Mark Mader retirement, acting CEO Sunny Gupta, enterprise software market shift, productivity tools competition, Google Workspace rival, Salesforce competitor, Airtable vs Smartsheet, Smartsheet private equity, Bellevue tech company, Washington state layoffs, tech industry trends 2026, corporate belt-tightening, pandemic hiring boom reversal, Smartsheet severance package, healthcare options laid-off employees, Seattle tech gloom, tech boom to gloom, economic fears Seattle, Smartsheet organizational changes, long-term business priorities, competitive landscape enterprise software, agile challengers productivity tools, Smartsheet strategic scaling, sustainable growth tech, market recalibration, industry transformation, tech sector crossroads, future of enterprise software, workplace dynamics shift, AI-powered tools disruption, Smartsheet billion-dollar company, enterprise giants layoffs, tech workforce reduction, Seattle tech ecosystem, corporate strategy pandemic era, Smartsheet Engage keynote, Raj Singh enterprise roots, Smartsheet market positioning, competitive pressures tech, Smartsheet user base growth, enterprise software evolution, tech industry adaptation, Smartsheet leadership transition, Smartsheet market challenges, Seattle tech resilience, enterprise software innovation, Smartsheet strategic priorities, tech sector uncertainty, Smartsheet market competition, enterprise collaboration tools, Smartsheet business model, tech industry layoffs 2026, Smartsheet future outlook, enterprise software trends, Smartsheet market share, tech industry transformation, Smartsheet competitive strategy, enterprise software disruption, Smartsheet organizational realignment, tech sector recalibration, Smartsheet market dynamics, enterprise software leadership, Smartsheet strategic direction, tech industry evolution, Smartsheet market adaptation, enterprise software future, Smartsheet competitive edge, tech sector reinvention, Smartsheet market strategy, enterprise software innovation 2026, Smartsheet growth trajectory, tech industry resilience, Smartsheet market positioning 2026, enterprise software competition, Smartsheet strategic focus, tech sector transformation, Smartsheet market leadership, enterprise software trends 2026, Smartsheet competitive landscape, tech industry adaptation 2026, Smartsheet market challenges 2026, enterprise software disruption 2026, Smartsheet strategic priorities 2026, tech sector uncertainty 2026, Smartsheet market dynamics 2026, enterprise software evolution 2026, Smartsheet leadership transition 2026, Smartsheet market competition 2026, Seattle tech resilience 2026, enterprise software innovation 2026, Smartsheet future outlook 2026, tech industry transformation 2026, Smartsheet market strategy 2026, enterprise software trends 2026, Smartsheet market share 2026, tech industry evolution 2026, Smartsheet competitive strategy 2026, enterprise software disruption 2026, Smartsheet organizational realignment 2026, tech sector recalibration 2026, Smartsheet market dynamics 2026, enterprise software leadership 2026, Smartsheet strategic direction 2026, tech industry adaptation 2026, Smartsheet market adaptation 2026, enterprise software future 2026, Smartsheet competitive edge 2026, tech sector reinvention 2026, Smartsheet market strategy 2026, enterprise software innovation 2026, Smartsheet growth trajectory 2026, tech industry resilience 2026, Smartsheet market positioning 2026, enterprise software competition 2026, Smartsheet strategic focus 2026, tech sector transformation 2026, Smartsheet market leadership 2026.

,