Location: Bristol, UK
Duration: 12 weeks
Salary: £2500 per month
Start date: June 2027
Application deadline: Midnight, 29th November 2026
We encourage you to apply early, as we may close applications before the advertised deadline.
Explore a career at Graphcore through a 12-week summer internship, gaining hands-on experience on real projects. You’ll bring fresh ideas, put your learning into practice and help shape what we’re creating. Along the way, you’ll tackle challenging problems with a team who welcome your questions and support you as you build your skills and confidence.
What you’ll work onPut your programming skills to work exploring how firmware brings AI hardware to life, from first boot to system monitoring.
As a Firmware Engineering Intern, you’ll contribute to firmware for Graphcore’s next-generation products. Working closely to with our silicon and hardware teams, you’ll contribute to software that supports hardware bootup and provides telemetry and monitoring data that helps data centre operators understand what the hardware is doing.
Your tasks could include writing code, develop unit tests and investigate behaviour on hardware using logs, oscilloscopes and logic analysers. You’ll contribute to a shared codebase and see how software decisions affect physical systems.
Your team and supportThe Firmware team sits within System Software and works with teams across Graphcore and our partners. You’ll report to the Firmware Manager and work alongside engineers connecting silicon, hardware and software.
Technical discussions, code reviews and Agile working practices will help you understand design decisions and how the team coordinates its work. You can ask for help as you learn the codebase, explain your thinking and use feedback to improve your work.
Decisions are shaped by technical discussion and investigation. As an intern, you’ll be encouraged to ask questions, raise issues early and share what you learn, with support from experienced engineers as you try out different approaches.
How you’ll learn and growOver the 12 weeks, you’ll build practical experience in firmware development, unit testing and debugging through the work your tasks focus on.
Investigating issues on real hardware will help you connect software behaviour with physical signals and develop a methodical approach to finding problems. Code reviews will introduce you to shared development and coding standards and help you build confidence contributing to a team codebase, giving you a clearer view of a career in embedded software.
Your internship is a chance to explore a future at Graphcore. Depending on your performance and the roles available, there may be an opportunity to join one of our graduate programmes once you’ve graduated.
What we’re looking for- Currently studying towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Maths or a related field. Equivalent experience is also welcome
- Introductory programming experience in C or Python, with some understanding of continuous integration, build systems and software packaging best practices
- A practical, methodical approach to problem solving, with the ability to organise your work and follow tasks through to completion
- Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to document complex system designs coherently
Previous industry experience is not required. Tell us what you built or investigated through coursework, personal or team projects, research or other relevant experience, how you approached it and what you learned.
Benefits- Flexible working: Find a balance between your internship and life outside work
- 5 days of annual leave: Take time to rest and recharge during your 12-week internship
- Life in the office: Get to know your colleagues in spaces designed for collaboration, with free food, a great selection of ice cream and an on-site barista
- Learning and development: Build your skills and explore your interests with access to O’Reilly, our online learning platform
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.
SponsorshipApplicants must already have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme, without requiring visa sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor work visas for our Early Careers opportunities..
Introduction to GraphcoreAt Graphcore, we’re building next generation AI compute: From semiconductors and software to systems at datacenter scale. We are proud to be owned by SoftBank Group and work with other companies in the SoftBank family to deliver AI compute to customers working at the AI frontier.
An internship at Graphcore gives you the chance to explore where your interests and skills could take you. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds and expertise, from AI researchers to chip designers and software engineers. Together, you’ll share ideas and solve challenging problems, building experience and confidence to help you decide what comes next.
How to apply and what to expectTo apply, answer the application questions below and upload your CV and cover letter. We’ll let you know the outcome of your application by early December at the latest. If successful, you’ll be invited to complete a technical assessment. Candidates who reach the final stage will then be invited to attend in-person assessments in early spring.
Curious about where your skills could take you? Apply for a summer internship at Graphcore and help us build what comes next.
Skills Required
- Currently studying toward a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Maths, or a related field; equivalent experience is also welcome.
- Introductory programming experience in C or Python.
- Some understanding of continuous integration, build systems, and software packaging best practices.
- Practical, methodical problem-solving approach with the ability to organize work and complete tasks.
- Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to document complex system designs coherently.
- Previous industry experience.
- Existing right to work in the UK for the full internship duration without visa sponsorship.
What the Team is Saying
Graphcore Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials list private medical insurance, dental coverage, health cash plans, mental‑health support, and day‑one U.S. medical options via Cigna/Kaiser. Feedback suggests these offerings are a meaningful strength, particularly in the UK.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Benefits highlight flexible working hours, unlimited annual leave, generous parental leave, and paid U.S. holidays. Feedback suggests work‑life balance is often described positively alongside these policies.
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Retirement Support — UK information cites pension matching up to 5%, while U.S. listings describe a 401(k) with a 100% company match up to 6%. Feedback suggests these structured contributions are viewed as competitive elements of the package.
Graphcore Insights
What We Do
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.
Why Work With Us
Our team is at the forefront of the machine intelligence revolution, enabling innovators from all industries to build AI-native products to expand human potential. What we do at Graphcore really makes a difference.
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Graphcore Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
At Graphcore, we value wellbeing and flexibility to support a healthy work/life balance. Our hybrid approach encourages office-based colleagues to work onsite three days a week, with trusted flexibility built on trust and transparency for everyone.
