--- title: 'Principal Hardware System Test Engineer at Graphcore' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-hardware-system-test-engineer-graphcore-bristol-md67bhc8af7h' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Principal Hardware System Test Engineer at Graphcore - **Company:** Graphcore - **Location:** Bristol, United Kingdom / Cambridge, MA - **Posted:** 2026-07-23 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/graphcore/jobs/8646786002 ## Job description ## About the job Shape how advanced AI hardware is tested before it reaches customers. You'll lead the technical direction of manufacturing test solutions for Host Processor Modules, Server Blades, and multi-node rack systems. Your work will help ensure every system meets the highest quality standards before deployment. You'll own the architecture of the test executive software and develop manufacturing test content that validates complex hardware at scale. Working across hardware, firmware, and software teams, you'll enable reliable, efficient testing throughout production. This role offers broad technical influence. You'll solve complex engineering challenges, improve manufacturing quality through data, and help shape the future of Graphcore's production test capability. The team and culture You'll join the Product Test and Diagnosis team within Manufacturing Operations. The team defines and delivers test strategies across silicon, boards, server systems, and rack-scale platforms. Day to day, you'll work closely with engineers across hardware, firmware, software, manufacturing, and quality. Decisions are driven by technical evidence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You'll have the freedom to lead technically, mentor other engineers, and influence how manufacturing test evolves across globally distributed teams. ## What we're looking for Essential - Extensive experience developing and deploying manufacturing test solutions for high-performance servers, accelerators (GPU-class), or comparable large-scale compute hardware. - Proven technical leadership as an individual contributor, owning architecture and driving alignment across multiple teams without direct line management responsibility. - Deep technical understanding across silicon, board, and system design sufficient to define effective manufacturing test coverage and lead complex debug/root-cause analysis. - Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience driving requirements and delivery with internal software/firmware/platform teams to enable testability and diagnosability. - Hands-on experience using Linux, OpenBMC, and vendor-specific test tools, diagnostics, and system-level utilities to test hardware in lab and manufacturing environments. - Strong software engineering skills with scripting and automation (e.g., Python, Bash, or similar), including building reliable test infrastructure and integrating heterogeneous test content. Desirable - Familiarity with rack-scale/multi-node systems, high-speed interconnects, and production qualification of complex assemblies. - Experience improving manufacturing KPIs (yield, test time, false fail reduction) through data-driven test optimisation and robust statistical/diagnostic approaches. - Knowledge of open-source tools commonly used for manufacturing test, system bring-up, and hardware diagnostics. - Experience designing testability/diagnosability features into products (e.g., telemetry, self-test hooks, debug interfaces) in partnership with design teams. ## Benefits - Unlimited annual leave - Up to 5% matched pension - Phantom equity – share in Graphcore’s success - True flexibility in how and where you work - Office spaces designed for collaboration - Free food and an on-site barista - Health cash plan - Income protection - Life assurance - Along with other benefits you can choose from (private medical insurance, dental plan etc) 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. Join the team at Graphcore 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 want to lead the engineering behind manufacturing test for advanced AI hardware and help deliver quality at scale, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to join Graphcore. ## 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 - [Technical Programme Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-programme-manager-graphcore-bristol-tnv81pjcg71q) — Bristol, United Kingdom - [Technology Owner](https://feeny.ai/job/technology-owner-graphcore-bristol-d8detpv2a2gt) — Bristol, United Kingdom - [Staff Silicon Physical Design Engineer - Bengaluru](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-silicon-physical-design-engineer-bengaluru-graphcore-bengaluru-5zwkhyr3ps27) — Bengaluru, India - [Staff Robotics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-robotics-engineer-graphcore-austin-texas-48zjd6k5bqkd) — Austin Texas, United States - [Staff Engineering Program Support](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineering-program-support-graphcore-milpitas-california-hrx7htcx8rkq) — Milpitas California, United States - [Senior Engineering Program Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineering-program-coordinator-graphcore-milpitas-california-k5rv0zfbxp3p) — Milpitas California, United States - [Staff Engineering Operations Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineering-operations-technical-program-manager-graphcore-austin-texas-ffy430feqmnr) — Austin Texas, United States - [Principal Network Program Manager, AI Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-network-program-manager-ai-infrastructure-graphcore-milpitas-ta509snr3rw9) — Milpitas California, United States - [Principal Engineering Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-engineering-program-manager-graphcore-austin-texas-m5g623168tsj) — Austin Texas, United States - [Staff Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-hardware-engineer-graphcore-austin-texas-tf5ew0k0z9g8) — Austin Texas, United States