Senior SoC Architect

About Graphcore

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.

Job Summary  

Our team is at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution, enabling innovators from all industries and sectors to expand human potential with technology. The availability of specialised artificial intelligence compute will be a decisive factor in AI’s rate of progress. Graphcore allows innovators to go further, faster. What we do really makes a difference. Reporting to the Director of Silicon Architecture, the SoC Architects are responsible for the design, specification, modelling and integration of sub-systems within complex, high performance and highly integrated silicon devices at the forefront of AI acceleration technology. 

The role involves close collaboration with other groups, including architecture, silicon design, verification, hardware and software teams.  

The Team 

The Silicon Architecture Team sits within the COO group. The SoC architects are responsible for the architectural specification, integration, modelling, validation and evaluation of numerous critical sub-systems, including high-speed interfaces for our upcoming AI acceleration platforms. 

Responsibilities and Duties 

• Distilling product requirements and their effects on SoC/platform design trade-offs 

• Collaborating with processor, SoC and system architects to determine optimal solutions 

• Understanding of how to collaborate with silicon design, verification, and hardware engineers to demonstrate awareness and options for implementation correctness 

• Evaluating potential hard and soft third-party IP and liaising with third party IP vendors 

• Design and specification of performant SoC sub-systems and their associated integrations 

• Contribute to the silicon bring-up, characterisation and evaluation activities as required 

• Silicon Architecture Team representation within cross-functional working groups 

• Implement improvements to infrastructure and processes 

• Assist with complex debugging activities 

• Mentors Engineers with technical queries 

Candidate Profile  

Essential: 

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or related subject 

• Solid understanding of computer/SoC architecture 

• Excellent communication skills 

• Good experience in the writing of technical specifications 

• Knowledge of RTL development and verification processes 

• Be highly motivated, a self-starter, and a team player 
• Ability to work across teams and programming languages 

Desirable 

• Experience in the technical specification of complex silicon SoC devices 

• Experience of machine learning or massively parallel computing systems 

• Verilog 

• Low-level software experience, embedded C 
  
• Knowledge of one or more of DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, on-chip networks

Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, annual leave policy, medical and dental health plans, a gym card and employee pension (matched up to 4%). We review our benefits on a yearly basis to ensure we offer a valuable and rewarding benefits programme to our employees.  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.