Graduate Silicon Engineer

Location: Bristol or Cambridge, UK
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Start date: September 2027
Application deadline: Midnight 29^th November
We encourage you to apply early, as we may close applications before the advertised deadline.

The Graduate Programme at Graphcore

Join Graphcore in a permanent role and start your career with two years of hands-on learning. From day one, you’ll be trusted to take ownership, share your ideas and help shape what we’re creating. You’ll tackle challenging problems alongside a team who support your development and are as excited about your success as you are.

What you’ll work on

Bring your curiosity, bright ideas and problem-solving skills to the chips behind tomorrow’s AI systems.

As a Graduate Silicon Engineer, you’ll join one of our four specialist Silicon teams: logical design, verification, physical design or design for test (DFT). You’ll contribute to real chip development, learning from experienced colleagues and building your understanding of how advanced AI chips are designed, verified and prepared for manufacture.

Depending on your team, you’ll work on areas such as register-transfer level (RTL) design, SOC integration, verification methods, physical implementation or the critical role of DFT. You’ll use industry-standard electronic design automation (EDA) tools and take ownership of clear tasks, with support from experienced engineers.

How you’ll learn and grow

During the two-year programme, you’ll develop practical silicon engineering skills in the team you join, building on the fundamentals you’ve learned through your studies and projects.

Hands-on tasks will help you learn modern design techniques and use industry-standard EDA tools. You’ll build skills in areas such as RTL, verification, timing or physical design, depending on your team’s focus.

Feedback from reviews and practical problem solving will help you develop your technical judgement, explain your approach and understand how your work fits into the wider chip development process. Bring your curiosity and willingness to learn; we’ll support you as you build your knowledge and confidence.

What we're looking for

• On track for, or achieved, a degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or a related subject such as Physics, Maths
• Good coding skills such as C, C++ or Python
• An interest in digital design, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), verification, physical design, computer architecture or AI compute, and motivation to learn modern silicon design techniques and EDA tools

You don’t need an engineering background to join us. If you’re curious, motivated and enjoy solving problems, we’ll teach you the skills you need.

You can demonstrate these skills through coursework, a dissertation, personal or team projects, hobbies, internships, work experience or other relevant experience. Tell us what you built or investigated, how you approached it and what you learned.

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.

Sponsorship

Applicants 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 Graphcore

At Graphcore, we’re building next generation AI compute: from semiconductors and software to systems at datacentre 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.

Starting your career here means working alongside people with different backgrounds and expertise, from AI researchers to chip designers and software engineers. You’ll learn from each other, bring fresh ideas and help solve challenging problems together.

How to apply and what to expect

To 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.

Ready to put your learning into practice? Start your career in a permanent Silicon Engineer role, with two years of hands-on learning through the Graphcore Graduate Programme. Apply now and help shape what comes next.