
Graphcore is the Bristol-based AI semiconductor company that developed the Intelligence Processing Unit. They're hiring a Staff Hardware System Test Engineer in Bristol to lead system test for full accelerator platforms, working hybrid. This hardware engineering role sits within the UK's AI compute hardware sector.
Build the test systems that help deliver AI hardware at production scale.
As a Staff Hardware System Test Engineer, you'll develop manufacturing test solutions for complex compute systems. Your work will help ensure products reach customers with the quality and reliability expected from Graphcore.
You'll shape how hardware is tested across Host Processor Modules, server blades, and multi-node racks. The tools, test content, and diagnostics you create will directly influence manufacturing efficiency and product quality.
You'll develop test software, design test approaches, and solve challenging hardware issues. You'll work closely with hardware, firmware, software, and manufacturing teams to improve test coverage and diagnose problems quickly.
This role offers broad technical scope across silicon, boards, systems, software, and manufacturing. You'll have the opportunity to influence engineering decisions and raise technical standards across the organisation.
The Product Test and Diagnosis team owns the strategy for finding and diagnosing hardware defects throughout the product lifecycle. The team works across silicon, boards, servers, and rack-scale systems.
Day to day, engineers work closely with design, firmware, software, quality, and manufacturing teams. Problems are solved through data, technical debate, and hands-on investigation.
You'll join a global engineering group spanning the UK, Taiwan, India, and the United States. People are trusted to take ownership, make decisions, and drive improvements that deliver measurable results.
Essential:
Desirable
We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work.
We’re an equal opportunity employer and recognise that everyone brings different strengths and perspectives. If you need any adjustments during the interview process, just let us know - we’re happy to support you.
Graphcore is building the compute platform for the next generation of artificial intelligence. From advanced silicon to intelligent software, our technology is designed to unlock breakthroughs in AI and bring its benefits to every industry.
As part of the SoftBank Group, we’re backed by one of the world’s most ambitious technology investors, working alongside companies shaping the future of AI. Together, we share a bold goal: to help enable artificial superintelligence and ensure it delivers meaningful impact at a global scale.
At Graphcore, you’ll work with people who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Our teams bring together AI researchers, chip designers, software engineers and systems experts from a wide range of backgrounds. It’s an environment where we take on big challenges with curiosity and focus, move quickly and decisively, take real ownership of our work, and speak up to challenge ideas, stepping up to support each other and lead through action.
If you enjoy solving complex hardware challenges and want to influence how advanced AI systems are tested and delivered, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to join 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.