--- title: 'DFT Engineer at Graphcore' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/dft-engineer-graphcore-bristol-a75vbmncxmn2' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # DFT Engineer at Graphcore - **Company:** Graphcore - **Location:** Bristol, United Kingdom / Cambridge, MA - **Posted:** 2026-01-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/graphcore/jobs/8383085002 ## Job description ## About Graphcore At Graphcore, we’re building the future of AI compute. We’re a team of semiconductor, software and AI experts, with deep experience in creating the complete AI compute stack - from silicon and software to infrastructure at datacenter scale. As part of the SoftBank Group, backed by significant long-term investment, we are delivering key technology into the fast-growing SoftBank AI ecosystem. To meet the vast and exciting AI opportunity, Graphcore is expanding its teams around the world. We are bringing together the brightest minds to solve the toughest problems, in a place where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact on the company, our products and the future of artificial intelligence. The Person Graphcore’s experienced, skilled, and motivated engineering team is heavily involved in shaping the future of AI. A successful candidate will exhibit exceptional knowledge in Design for Testability (DFT) and will have a strong technical background and experience in DFT methodologies, complemented by a robust, self-motivated work ethic. The ideal candidate should also have a focus on quality and demonstrate a good understanding of the importance of production test on the success of a product. Some hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas is essential: RTL design, simulations and debugging, synthesis, STA. The Role: We are expanding and looking for an experienced DFT engineers to join the Silicon team. As a part of our team, you will have the opportunity to work on next-generation AI designs targeted for data centers applications. Responsibilities: - Keep up with the latest industry trends in DFT domain and help adopt the latest DFT techniques and methodologies - Work closely with design, verification, physical design and product engineering teams to integrate DFT requirements into the overall design process - Define and implement DFT architecture and features for next-generation AI designs and support their verification effort - Develop efficient DFT flows and methodology compatible with silicon design flows - Work with 3rd party IPs to integrate the provided design into the DFT infrastructure - Generate structural test vectors, analyze and improve test coverage - Work with the product and test engineering teams to ensure successful silicon bring-up and help identify any silicon failures to enhance yield learning and improvement Requirements: - Very good understanding of DFT components like JTAG (IEEE 1149.x), IJTAG (IEEE P1687), Core Test (IEEE P1500), SSN (Streaming Scan Network), Test Compression, OCC etc. - Experience on developing DFT specifications and driving the implementation of the DFT features - Experience in MBIST and BISR implementation and verification is desired - Solid understanding of design verification methodologies for validating the DFT features using simulation in pre-silicon designs - Exposure to STA constraints development and analysis for DFT modes and SDF simulations would be a plus - Experience in Scan based testing and industry standard ATPG tools - Knowledge of ATPG pattern verification and gate-level simulation flows using Synopsys VCS and Verdi or other EDA tools - Very good knowledge of Digital Integrated Circuits and Systems - Hands-on experience with Verilog RTL coding and familiarity with System Verilog - Strong scripting and debugging skills using programming languages like Python, TCL, Perl, Shell etc. - Exposure to silicon bring-up, post-silicon testing and tester pattern debugging - Strong problem-solving skills across various levels of design hierarchies - Great team working and communication skills Academic Credentials - Bachelors or Masters or PhD in Computer engineering/Electrical engineering/Electronics Engineering Benefits: In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers flexible working, a generous annual leave policy, private medical insurance and health cash plan, a dental plan, pension (matched up to 5%), life assurance and income protection. We have a generous parental leave policy and an employee assistance programme (which includes health, mental wellbeing, and bereavement support). We offer a range of healthy food and snacks at our central Bristol office and have our own barista bar! We welcome people of different backgrounds and experiences; we’re committed to building an inclusive work environment that makes Graphcore a great home for everyone. We offer an equal opportunity process and understand that there are visible and invisible differences in all of us. We can provide a flexible approach to interview and encourage you to chat to us if you require any reasonable adjustments We welcome people of different backgrounds and experiences and are committed to building an inclusive work environment that makes Graphcore a great home for everyone. We are an equal opportunity employer and want to build a work environment where everyone is happy, productive and respectful so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, just let us know. ## About Graphcore ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Graphcore designs and builds the Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), a processor purpose-built for machine intelligence, and provides a complete AI compute stack from silicon to software. - **Entity Type**: Private (wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp as of 2025/2026) - **Headquarters**: Bristol, England, UK - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Nigel Toon and Simon Knowles ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: AI hardware/accelerators, semiconductor design, AI software platform - **Target customers**: Cloud providers (Microsoft Azure), enterprises, AI researchers, hyperscalers - **Mission statement**: “Let innovators create the next breakthroughs in machine intelligence to enhance human potential” ## Products & Services - **[IPU (Intelligence Processing Unit)](https://www.graphcore.ai/)**: A processor designed from the ground up for machine intelligence workloads; uses a massively parallel architecture (MIMD) with fine-grained compute and on-chip memory. - **[IPU-Machine M2000](https://www.graphcore.ai/about)**: Second-generation IPU platform – a 1U server appliance housing 4 MK2 GC200 IPU processors, delivering an 8× performance uplift over the first generation. - **[C2 IPU Accelerator PCIe Card](https://www.graphcore.ai/about)**: PCIe form factor accelerator for server integration, first demonstrated at ICML 2018. - **[Poplar Software Stack](https://www.graphcore.ai/)**: Full SDK and framework integration (PyTorch, TensorFlow) that lets developers target the IPU directly. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Acquired by SoftBank Group Corp (amount undisclosed); prior to acquisition valued at $2.77 B (Series E, lead by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board). - **Key Metric**: Total funding raised prior to acquisition – over $680 M across Series A through E. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: SoftBank (owner), Microsoft (customer and investor), BMW, Samsung, Dell Technologies, Bosch, Sequoia Capital, Atomico, Fidelity, Baillie Gifford, Ontario Teachers’. - **Growth Signals**: Part of the fast-growing SoftBank AI ecosystem; expanding teams globally (Bristol, London, Cambridge, Gdańsk, Hsinchu, Bengaluru); first customer (Microsoft Azure) live since 2018. ## Competitive Advantages - **First purpose-built AI processor**: The IPU architecture is fundamentally different from GPUs – designed specifically for the sparse, parallel nature of neural network computation. - **Full stack ownership**: Graphcore controls silicon, system hardware, and software (Poplar), enabling tight optimisation across the entire compute chain. - **Cloud + on‑prem availability**: IPUs are available in the cloud on Microsoft Azure and as hardware from Dell, giving customers flexible deployment options. - **Strong IP and ecosystem**: 99+ engineering staff; deep expertise in semiconductor, systems, and AI software, backed by long-term SoftBank investment. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale AI infrastructure**: Delivering key technology into SoftBank’s global AI ecosystem and expanding the IPU platform to meet growing demand for AI compute. - **Expand into new regions**: Opening offices and hiring in India (Bengaluru) and across Europe (Gdańsk, London, Cambridge) to accelerate R&D and customer support. - **Democratise AI**: Continuing to lower the barrier for machine intelligence by providing accessible, high-efficiency hardware and software for innovators worldwide. ## Why Work Here - **Flexible hybrid work**: Employees are expected on-site three days a week, with trust and flexibility to balance work and life. - **Comprehensive benefits**: Unlimited annual leave, private medical insurance (UK), dental & health cash plan, income protection, life assurance, pension matched up to 5%, generous parental leave, and a personal development plan. - **Culture and growth**: ML reading groups, board game socials, book clubs, yoga, running, watersports, team events; strong DE+I initiatives; ambitious but supportive environment. - **Perks**: Free barista‑made coffee, snacks, and wellbeing rooms; cycle‑to‑work scheme; gym membership discount; education/training allowances. - **Purpose-driven work**: Opportunity to shape the future of AI compute and see your contributions used by global innovators. ## Sources 1. [graphcore.ai/about](https://www.graphcore.ai/about) 2. [graphcore.ai/](https://www.graphcore.ai/) 3. [graphcore.ai/careers](https://www.graphcore.ai/careers) 4. [graphcore.ai/jobs](https://www.graphcore.ai/jobs) 5. 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