Principal 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 

• Defines team infrastructure and processes  

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

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

• When required, providing technical knowledge silicon design, verification, and hardware engineers to ensure implementation correctness  

• Good experience 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 

• Manages queries for the silicon bring-up, characterisation and evaluation activities as required 

• Drives delivery and planning of technical objectives 

• Advise in planning for infrastructure and processes  

• Silicon Architecture Team representation within cross-functional working groups 

• Mentors' senior technical engineers  

Candidate Profile  

Essential: 

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or related subject 

• Experience in the technical specification of complex silicon SoC devices 

• Strong software development experience 

• Solid understanding of complex computer/SoC architecture 

• Excellent communication skills 

• Strong experience in writing and developing technical specifications 

• In depth knowledge of RTL development and verification processes 

• Be a self-starter, able to motivate and support team members  

• Ability to work across teams and programming languages 

Desirable 

• Architecture modelling experience in Python/C++/Rust 

• Experience of machine learning or massively parallel computing systems 

• Verilog 

• 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.