At a Glance
- Tasks: Dive into firmware development and tackle real-world challenges with cutting-edge AI hardware.
- Company: Join Graphcore, a leader in next-gen AI compute, fostering innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, annual leave, free food, and access to online learning resources.
- Other info: Inclusive environment welcoming diverse backgrounds; potential for graduate programme opportunities.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience, build your skills, and explore future career opportunities in tech.
- Qualifications: Studying towards a degree in Computer Science or related field; programming experience in C or Python.
The predicted salary is between 2500 - 2500 £ per month.
Location: Bristol, UK
Duration: 12 weeks
Salary: £2500 per month
Start date: June 2027
Application deadline: Midnight, 29th November 2026
We encourage you to apply early, as we may close applications before the advertised deadline.
The Internship Programme at Graphcore offers a 12-week summer internship, gaining hands-on experience on real projects. You’ll bring fresh ideas, put your learning into practice and help shape what we’re creating. Along the way, you’ll tackle challenging problems with a team who welcome your questions and support you as you build your skills and confidence.
What you’ll work on:
- Put your programming skills to work exploring how firmware brings AI hardware to life, from first boot to system monitoring.
- As a Firmware Engineering Intern, you’ll contribute to firmware for Graphcore’s next-generation products.
- Working closely with our silicon and hardware teams, you’ll contribute to software that supports hardware bootup and provides telemetry and monitoring data.
- Your tasks could include writing code, developing unit tests and investigating behaviour on hardware using logs, oscilloscopes and logic analysers.
- You’ll contribute to a shared codebase and see how software decisions affect physical systems.
Your team and support:
- The Firmware team sits within System Software and works with teams across Graphcore and our partners.
- You’ll report to the Firmware Manager and work alongside engineers connecting silicon, hardware and software.
- Technical discussions, code reviews and Agile working practices will help you understand design decisions and how the team coordinates its work.
- You can ask for help as you learn the codebase, explain your thinking and use feedback to improve your work.
- As an intern, you’ll be encouraged to ask questions, raise issues early and share what you learn, with support from experienced engineers.
How you’ll learn and grow:
- Over the 12 weeks, you’ll build practical experience in firmware development, unit testing and debugging.
- Investigating issues on real hardware will help you connect software behaviour with physical signals.
- Code reviews will introduce you to shared development and coding standards.
- Your internship is a chance to explore a future at Graphcore.
- Depending on your performance and the roles available, there may be an opportunity to join one of our graduate programmes once you’ve graduated.
What we’re looking for:
- Currently studying towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Maths or a related field.
- Introductory programming experience in C or Python, with some understanding of continuous integration, build systems and software packaging best practices.
- A practical, methodical approach to problem solving, with the ability to organise your work and follow tasks through to completion.
- Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to document complex system designs coherently.
- Previous industry experience is not required.
Benefits:
- Flexible working: Find a balance between your internship and life outside work.
- 5 days of annual leave: Take time to rest and recharge during your 12-week internship.
- Life in the office: Get to know your colleagues in spaces designed for collaboration, with free food, a great selection of ice cream and an on-site barista.
- Learning and development: Build your skills and explore your interests with access to O’Reilly, our online learning platform.
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. An internship at Graphcore gives you the chance to explore where your interests and skills could take you.
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.
Curious about where your skills could take you? Apply for a summer internship at Graphcore and help us build what comes next.
Firmware Summer Intern 2027 in Bristol employer: Graphcore Early Careers
At Graphcore, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among our talented team of engineers. Located in the vibrant city of Bristol, we provide flexible working arrangements, generous benefits including private medical insurance and a supportive parental leave policy, and a commitment to employee growth through diverse project opportunities. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the fast-evolving field of AI compute, where your contributions will be valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Firmware Summer Intern 2027 in Bristol
✨Join Developer Communities!
Dive into online communities like GitHub or Stack Overflow. Contributing to open-source projects can really showcase your coding skills and catch the eye of hiring managers at companies like Graphcore Early Careers.
✨Attend Tech Meetups and Hackathons
Get your name out there by attending local tech meetups and hackathons. It's a perfect way to network with industry professionals and fellow interns, while also demonstrating your coding prowess in a collaborative setting.
✨Leverage University Career Services
Don't forget about your university's career services! They often have partnerships with companies like Graphcore Early Careers, and can help you access exclusive internship listings and workshops tailored for aspiring interns like us.
✨Show Off Your Work
Create a portfolio showcasing your coding projects on a platform like GitHub Pages or personal website. When applying for internships, we should link this to provide tangible proof of our skills and creativity, making us stand out to Graphcore Early Careers!
We think you need these skills to ace Firmware Summer Intern 2027 in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Side Projects:If you've got any side projects or contributions to open source, make sure to highlight them in your CV. We want to see what you can create! Include links to your GitHub or any relevant platforms to give us a taste of your coding style and skills.
Tailor Your CV for Software Engineering:Make your CV pop by tailoring it specifically for software engineering. List relevant programming languages, frameworks, and tools you’ve worked with, and showcase any tech stacks you're familiar with. This will help us quickly see how you fit into the Graphcore Early Careers team!
Let Your Passion Shine in Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don't just list your skills—tell us why you're passionate about software engineering! We love to see candidates who are eager to learn and grow, so share what excites you about this field and how a role at Graphcore Early Careers can help you on your journey.
Demonstrate Your Learning Mindset:As this is an internship, focus on your willingness to learn and adapt! We’re keen to see examples of how you’ve tackled challenges or learnt new skills in the past. Bring that eagerness to your application, showing us that you're ready to dive into a real-world software environment at Graphcore Early Careers!
How to prepare for a job interview at Graphcore Early Careers
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Since you're aiming for a software engineering internship, be ready to code on the spot or discuss your past projects. Brush up on your problem-solving skills, and practise coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. We want to see how you approach problems and apply your knowledge, so having a few coding examples up your sleeve will definitely help!
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Prepare a portfolio that highlights your coding projects—don't just list them! Be ready to explain your thought process, the technologies used, and any challenges you faced. It’s not just about the final product; we want to hear how you made it happen, so this narrative will show your depth of understanding and passion for software development.
✨Get Familiar with Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions or scenarios in the interview that assess your understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design. Practise explaining your coding decisions clearly—it's less about getting the right answer and more about demonstrating your thought process and reasoning skills, which are crucial for growth in an internship.
✨Highlight Your Willingness to Learn
As an intern, your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn are key! During the interview, emphasise your willingness to tackle new challenges and pick up new skills. Companies like Graphcore Early Careers are often looking for candidates who can grow with them, so remind us why you're excited about opportunities to learn and contribute in a team environment.
