Python Engineer
Graphcore builds AI accelerators and the Poplar graph programming framework, with UK sites in Bristol, Cambridge and London. They're hiring a Python Engineer, with the option of London, Bristol or Cambridge, to build the tooling and APIs its ML users work with. This software engineering role sits within the UK's AI hardware sector.
Graphcore is one of the world’s leading innovators in Artificial Intelligence compute.
It is developing hardware, software and systems infrastructure that will unlock the next generation of AI breakthroughs and power the widespread adoption of AI solutions across every industry.
As part of the SoftBank Group, Graphcore is a member of an elite family of companies responsible for some of the world’s most transformative technologies. Together, they share a bold vision: to enable Artificial Super Intelligence and ensure its benefits are accessible to everyone.
Graphcore’s teams are drawn from diverse backgrounds and bring a broad range of skills and perspectives. A melting pot of AI research specialists, silicon designers, software engineers and systems architects, Graphcore enjoys a culture of continuous learning and constant innovation.
As a Python Engineer at Graphcore Ltd., you will be at the forefront of driving innovation in AI computing. This is an outstanding opportunity to join our dynamic Infrastructure Solutions team in Bristol, UK, and play a meaningful role in scaling and managing our infrastructure. You will be instrumental in developing tools and services that empower our broader team, improving our build, test, deployment, and productization processes. Join us at an exciting and pivotal moment, with plenty of new projects ahead!
Responsibilities
- Create, manage, and sustain tools and services that aid the software build and release process
- Support the technical development of junior and graduate engineers
- Embody a strong engineering field for high reliability and minimal toil
Requirements
- Extensive knowledge of Python
- Experience with Linux administration and shell scripting
- Understanding of Linux environments
- Native user of CI/CD for production deployments
- Proven experience building and maintaining API integrations
- Solid background in automation (scripting, workflows, system integration)
- Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple engineering and security fields
Differentiators
- Experience with GitHub Actions
- Familiarity with build tools (e.g., CMake)
- Experience integrating SaaS platforms via APIs/webhooks
- Understanding of platform engineering or DevOps environments
- Exposure to security, IAM, or governance in cloud/SaaS ecosystems
- Experience deploying services in the cloud (AWS preferred)
About Graphcore
Graphcore is a Bristol-based AI semiconductor company founded in 2016 by serial semiconductor entrepreneurs Nigel Toon and Simon Knowles. Toon previously led XMOS and Picochip, while Knowles co-founded Element14 (acquired by Broadcom) and Icera (acquired by NVIDIA for $435M). The company developed Intelligence Processing Units (IPUs), novel AI accelerators designed from the ground up for machine learning workloads, alongside the proprietary Poplar graph programming framework. Graphcore raised $767M in total funding, reaching a $2.77B valuation, with backing from Sequoia Capital, Atomico, Amadeus, Microsoft, and others. In July 2024, SoftBank Group acquired Graphcore for approximately $500M to $600M. The company continues to operate from Bristol with plans to expand its UK headcount to 750.