Graphcore is a globally recognised leader in Artificial Intelligence computing systems. The company designs advanced semiconductors and data centre hardware that provide the specialised processing power needed to drive AI innovation, while delivering the efficiency required to support its broader adoption.
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. We are expending our labs in Bristol which will play a central role in Graphcore's work building the future of AI computing.
We are looking for a Validation and Debug engineer to work with Architecture, Silicon Engineering, Hardware Engineering and the Firmware team to help create and execute the bring-up and debug of our cutting-edge system platforms. As such you will need to develop a detailed understanding of our silicon and platform products. Your role will be to create and execute Validation and Debug plans of our silicon devices and platforms in systems to show that they will operate correctly over all conditions in the final product. This Validation will also involve debugging of hardware and firmware. You will concentrate on mainly manual testing of systems in the lab with the aid of some automation.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Perform Validation and Debug for new hardware platforms.
- Debug PCB, power, signal integrity, and interface issues.
- Validate and debug high-speed memory interfaces and slow speed interfaces
- LPDDR5-9600 memory interfaces
- SPI/I2C/I3C/UART
- Support LPDDR5-9600 initialization, training, timing optimization, margin analysis, and stability validation.
- Analyse DDR timing margins, signal integrity, eye diagrams, and training behaviour.
- Identify root causes and drive corrective actions across hardware and firmware domains.
- Create bring-up documentation, test procedures, and debug reports.
Working closely with:
- PCB design engineers
- Power engineers
- Signal integrity engineers
- Embedded software teams
Essential skills
- Hardware Debug
- LPDDR validation and tuning
- Signal integrity analysis
- DDR training and margin analysis
- Protocol-level debugging
- Root-cause analysis
- Low-level system integration
- An ability to work independently without daily oversight.
- Independently performs board bring-up and subsystem debug
- Drives issue resolution across teams.
- Use advanced lab instrumentation including:
- High-bandwidth oscilloscopes
- BERT systems
- VNA/TDR equipment
- Hands-on experience with:
- LPDDR5 memory subsystems
- LPDDR5 compliance testing
Desirable skills:
- Knowledge of PCBA and system level technologies
- Ethernet validation
- PCIe
- Background knowledge of ATE systems and capabilities. You may not be directly involved with such testing.
- The ability to code or script automation and data analysis using appropriate coding languages such as Python, LabView and BASH.
Benefits:
In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers a competitive benefits package. 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.
Skills Required
- Experience in Hardware Debug
- Skilled in LPDDR validation and tuning
- Proficiency in Signal integrity analysis
- Experience with DDR training and margin analysis
- Knowledge in Protocol-level debugging
- Experience in Root-cause analysis
- Ability to perform Low-level system integration
- Experience using advanced lab instrumentation
- Hands-on experience with LPDDR5 memory subsystems
- Knowledge of PCBA and system level technologies
What the Team is Saying
Graphcore Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — U.S. offerings include day-one medical through Cigna/Kaiser with PPO and HDHP options plus employer HSA contributions, dental/vision, life insurance at 3x salary, disability, and mental-health support via Spring Health. Globally, private medical insurance, dental cover, a health cash plan, life assurance, income protection, and wellbeing support are highlighted.
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Retirement Support — U.S. employees are offered a 401(k) with a 100% company match up to 6% with a year-end true-up. In the UK/Europe, matched pension schemes up to 5% are stated.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Policies include flexible or “unlimited” PTO with 11 paid U.S. holidays and paid family leave. Careers materials also emphasize generous parental leave and flexible hours.
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.
