--- title: 'Hardware Development Engineer at Graphcore' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-development-engineer-graphcore-bristol-nvcy3xsedd1c' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-22' --- # Hardware Development Engineer at Graphcore - **Company:** Graphcore - **Location:** Bristol, United Kingdom - **Posted:** 2026-07-22 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-22 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/graphcore/jobs/8644810002 ## Job description ## About the job Build the hardware that turns new AI processors into working systems. As a Hardware Development Engineer, you will design circuit solutions for Graphcore processor systems and validation platforms. You will turn system requirements into schematics, layout constraints, and testable hardware. Your work will shape production systems and test boards used across development, validation, and customer enablement. You will help prove performance, margin, and reliability before designs move into volume production. Alongside silicon, architecture, software and PCB CAD specialists, you will make design decisions grounded in evidence. You will define validation plans, run lab campaigns, debug prototypes, and interpret results with firmware and architecture teams. This role suits someone who likes owning problems from first schematic to mass production readiness. Few roles connect board design, bring-up, validation, and production so directly. The team and culture Hardware Engineering builds production systems and test hardware around Graphcore processors. The team works close to silicon, architecture, firmware, software, and PCB CAD from the first requirement onwards. Engineers own designs through definition, schematic capture, layout support, bring-up, validation, and production transfer. Work moves quickly because problems are handled close to the lab, not passed between silos. The team makes decisions through evidence: measurements, design reviews, margin data, and open technical challenge. You will speak up, take responsibility, and help the team move with confidence. ## What we're looking for - Strong digital circuit design and validation skills, including DCDC regulators, power delivery, resets, clocks, and control interfaces. - Experience developing processor-based systems and working with interfaces such as Ethernet, PCIe, DDR, USB, QSPI and JTAG. - Practical lab depth in bring-up, debug, margin testing, and validation using oscilloscopes, logic analysers and signal generators. - Ability to script tests and analyse results using Linux, Python, Bash and Excel. - Understanding of server architecture, such as BMC, NIC and SSD, with SERDES experience adding further value. - Ownership mindset, clear communication, and the confidence to challenge, decide, and work across disciplines. While we have outlined a set of requirements, we value transferable skills and diverse experiences. If you meet most of our essential criteria, we encourage you to submit an application and showcase how your background makes you a strong candidate. ## Benefits - Flexible working: Balance your work and personal life with greater flexibility - Generous leave: Take time to rest, recharge and enjoy life outside of work - Retirement planning support: Up to 5% matched pension - Phantom equity: Share in Graphcore’s success - Workplace experience: Enjoy thoughtfully designed office spaces for collaboration, with free food and an on-site barista to support your day - Peace of mind protection: Income protection and life assurance to provide financial security for you and your loved ones - Flexible benefits: Tailor your benefits package with a choice of additional options, including private medical insurance and dental cover - Optional benefits: Dental cover, health cash plan, private medical insurance, cycle to work scheme, give as you earn 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. Sponsorship Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa applications for this role. Join the Team at Graphcore 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 brings together deep expertise to solve complex problems and deliver meaningful progress in AI compute. Ready to build the systems that prove Graphcore processors in the lab and beyond? Apply now to join the Hardware Engineering team. ## 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. [builtin.com/company/graphcore](https://builtin.com/company/graphcore) ## Other roles at Graphcore - [Staff SoC Architect](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-soc-architect-graphcore-bristol-nsskffn3m26e) — Bristol, United Kingdom - [Staff Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-hardware-engineer-graphcore-austin-texas-226zz6z1pcfv) — Austin Texas, United States - [Senior Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-engineer-graphcore-austin-texas-e85pj2hm6c99) — Austin Texas, United States - [Data Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/data-analyst-graphcore-bristol-0ygwh5m9jr27) — Bristol, United Kingdom - [Data Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-graphcore-bristol-z04pg7sdkzv2) — Bristol, United Kingdom - [Staff Engineering Operations Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineering-operations-technical-program-manager-graphcore-austin-texas-97sw60qmvbsb) — Austin Texas, United States - [Staff System Tests & Diagnostics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-system-tests-diagnostics-engineer-graphcore-austin-texas-ygkgfd3zm3qc) — Austin Texas, United States - [Senior System Tests & Diagnostics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-system-tests-diagnostics-engineer-graphcore-austin-texas-ak644haqz3y5) — Austin Texas, United States - [Staff Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-software-engineer-graphcore-gdansk-pomeranian-voivodeship-texapbf405tc) — Gdańsk Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland - [Senior Workplace Coordinator - Bengaluru](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-workplace-coordinator-bengaluru-graphcore-bengaluru-kmzscbp5th5d) — Bengaluru, India