Bristol, UK
About the jobLead the engineers behind the power, timing and control circuits that make Graphcore’s AI compute hardware work.
Your team’s schematics, component choices and electrical constraints will give PCB layout engineers complete inputs for implementing each design. You’ll help test and manufacturing teams understand expected behaviour, resolve circuit issues and take hardware through to production.
You’ll line-manage engineers, coach their development and agree achievable commitments, matching the work to available capacity. You’ll coordinate reviews and investigations, ensure corrective actions reach closure and plan ahead for tools, licences and compute resources.
Grow your leadership across the hardware lifecycle, drawing on specialist expertise rather than becoming the technical authority for every circuit. Build a more autonomous team whose methods and shared knowledge improve how Graphcore develops its next generation of hardware.
The team and cultureYou’ll connect Hardware Design with SI/PI, PCB layout, mechanical, thermal, systems and firmware engineers across locations. Programme management owns the integrated plan; you’ll flag competing priorities early and bring practical options for resolving them.
Technical owners help agree operating conditions, margins and acceptance criteria. You’ll encourage engineers to challenge assumptions, using evidence and specialist advice to resolve difficult trade-offs.
What we’re looking for- People leadership that develops engineers, delegates effectively and addresses difficult performance issues, with readiness for formal line management.
- Experience coordinating engineering delivery with programme management, including estimates, work allocation, dependencies and capacity, with sound judgement under schedule pressure.
- Communication that builds relationships across disciplines and locations, resolves competing expectations and secures decisions by explaining risks and trade-offs.
- A strong hardware engineering background spanning circuit and schematic development, board implementation, verification and production transition. An engineering degree or equivalent practical experience.
- Understanding of power supplies, sequencing, reset, clocks, digital interfaces and SI/PI constraints, with judgement about when specialist input is needed.
- Experience organising technical reviews, maintaining traceable design records and ensuring investigations and corrective actions reach a clear conclusion.
While we have outlined a set of requirements, we value transferable skills and diverse experiences. We also welcome engineers returning to the profession after a career break, including through returnship routes.
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
· Electric Vehicle Scheme: Choose an electric vehicle and lease it through salary sacrifice
· 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.
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 GraphcoreGraphcore 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 lead the engineers shaping Graphcore’s AI compute hardware? Apply for the Hardware Design Team Lead role in Bristol.
Skills Required
- People leadership experience, including developing engineers, delegating effectively, handling performance issues, and readiness for formal line management
- Experience coordinating engineering delivery with programme management, including estimates, work allocation, dependencies, and capacity planning
- Strong cross-functional communication and ability to resolve competing expectations and explain risks and trade-offs
- Strong hardware engineering background spanning circuit and schematic development, board implementation, verification, and production transition
- Engineering degree or equivalent practical experience
- Understanding of power supplies, sequencing, reset, clocks, digital interfaces, and SI/PI constraints
- Experience organising technical reviews, maintaining traceable design records, and closing investigations and corrective actions
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.
