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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-speed interface testing and ensure reliable chip communication.
- Company: Join Axelera AI, a pioneering deep-tech startup transforming the AI landscape.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, pension plan, employee insurances, and share options.
- Other info: Dynamic, inclusive culture that fosters creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on next-gen AI hardware and shape the future of technology.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in high-speed interface validation with hands-on lab experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About Us
Axelera AI is not your regular deep-tech startup. We are creating the next-generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advancing humanity and improve the world around us. In just four years, we have raised a total of $370 million and have built a world-class team of 220+ employees (including 49+ PhDs with more than 40,000 citations), both remotely from 18 different countries and with offices in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, the UK, headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Netherlands. We have also launched our Metisâ„¢ AI Platform, which achieves a 3-5x increase in efficiency and performance, and have visibility into a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million. Our unwavering commitment to innovation has firmly established us as a global industry pioneer. Are you up for the challenge?
Position Overview
We are looking for a High-Speed Interface Test & Characterisation Engineer to join our AI accelerator team at Axelera AI, based in our Bristol lab. You will fully own the post-silicon characterisation, compliance testing, and formal certification of PCIe and LPDDR interfaces across our AIPU devices and board-level products — from first silicon bring-up through production qualification. Working hands-on with sophisticated lab equipment, you will be the technical authority on high-speed interface testing within the organisation, collaborating closely with silicon design, hardware, and software teams. Your work is what ensures our chips communicate reliably at multi-gigabit data rates in customer systems.
Why This Role Matters
At Axelera AI, PCIe and LPDDR are the critical connections between our AI accelerator cores and the outside world. No matter how well the inference engine performs, interface issues make a chip unusable. You will be the person who ensures those connections are solid — meeting the standards required for our chips to work reliably in any compliant datacentre or automotive system. This is a chance to build a world-class test capability at a growing AI hardware company, with direct influence on both current products and next-generation interface design decisions.
Key responsibilities
- Own PCIe and LPDDR validation end-to-end: signal integrity, electrical compliance, protocol testing, and formal certification, including getting products onto the PCI-SIG integrators list.
- Execute PCIe Tx/Rx electrical compliance, protocol, and certification testing across Gen 3 through Gen 6, and perform LPDDR electrical compliance testing (eye mask, margin, and jitter analysis) for LPDDR4, LPDDR5, and LPDDR6.
- Create and execute post-silicon characterisation plans across PVT corners, designing test sequences that surface issues early and prioritise the measurements with the highest diagnostic value.
- Review signal integrity simulations from die through package and PCB, providing design-phase feedback and helping designers reconcile simulation models with post-silicon measurements.
- Work with hardware engineers to specify test boards, fixtures, and probing requirements; define and source compliance test fixtures and interposers suited to our packages.
- Collaborate with software and firmware teams to debug link stability issues, optimising initialisation sequences, training protocols, and link configuration.
- Develop Python-based test automation to drive equipment, collect data systematically, and generate reports — enabling comprehensive overnight test runs and focusing your time on analysis.
- Act as primary technical contact with external test equipment suppliers and test houses for formal certification activities.
- Produce clear, thorough validation and compliance reports documenting results, requirement comparisons, and residual risks.
- Build and maintain lab infrastructure: calibration schedules, probe libraries, standard operating procedures, and documentation that allows others to replicate your measurements.
Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum 10 years in high-speed interface validation, with hands‑on lab expertise making difficult measurements work on real silicon.
- Standards Knowledge: Deep understanding of PCIe through Gen 6 and LPDDR4/5/6 specifications, at a level sufficient to debate subtle interpretation points and explain requirements to design teams.
- Compliance Track Record: Demonstrated experience completing the full PCI-SIG certification process and successfully placing products on the integrators list.
- Lab Equipment: Extensive hands‑on experience with high‑bandwidth oscilloscopes and probes, compliance test applications, protocol analysers, interposers, and exercisers — knowing not just how to operate them but how to select the right tool and interpret measurement artefacts.
- Scripting: Proficiency in Python for test automation and equipment control; familiarity with SystemC for software‑based testing.
- Environment: Comfortable working in Linux, navigating the command line, and managing test code in git.
- Bonus: Working knowledge of UCIe, CXL, and PAM4 modulation for emerging interface standards.
- Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills — able to work effectively with silicon designers, hardware engineers, and software teams, and translate between their different technical perspectives.
Location
This position is based in Bristol on an on‑site/hybrid basis.
What we offer
This is your chance to shape and be part of a dynamic, fast‑growing, international organization. We offer an attractive compensation package, including a pension plan, extensive employee insurances and the option to get company shares. An open culture that supports creativity and continual innovation is awaiting you. Collaborative ownership and freedom with responsibility is characteristic for the way we act and work as a team.
Equal Opportunity
At Axelera AI, we wholeheartedly embrace equal opportunity and hold diversity in the highest regard. Our steadfast commitment is to cultivate a warm and inclusive environment that empowers and celebrates every member of our team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to join us in shaping the future of AI.
High-Speed Interface Test & Characterisation Engineer in Bristol employer: Axelera
Contact Detail:
Axelera Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land High-Speed Interface Test & Characterisation Engineer in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at Axelera AI. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects related to high-speed interface testing, make sure to highlight them during interviews. We love seeing real-world applications of your expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical questions! Brush up on PCIe and LPDDR specs, and be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in past roles. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Axelera AI.
We think you need these skills to ace High-Speed Interface Test & Characterisation Engineer in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for high-speed interface testing shine through! We want to see how excited you are about the role and the impact you can make at Axelera AI.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience with PCIe and LPDDR interfaces. We love seeing specific examples of your hands-on lab work and any compliance certifications you've achieved.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to describe your skills and experiences, so we can easily see how you fit into our team and the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Axelera AI.
How to prepare for a job interview at Axelera
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of PCIe and LPDDR specifications. Be ready to discuss the nuances of these standards, as well as your hands-on experience with high-speed interface validation. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but can also apply it practically.
✨Showcase Your Lab Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience with lab equipment like oscilloscopes and protocol analysers. Bring examples of how you've used these tools to solve real-world problems. If you have any interesting stories about overcoming measurement challenges, share them!
✨Collaboration is Key
Since this role involves working closely with silicon designers, hardware engineers, and software teams, be ready to discuss your collaboration skills. Think of specific instances where you successfully translated technical requirements between different teams and how that led to successful outcomes.
✨Automate and Innovate
Highlight your proficiency in Python for test automation. Discuss any projects where you developed scripts to streamline testing processes or improve data collection. This will demonstrate your ability to innovate and enhance efficiency in a lab environment.