At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to develop high-performance ML kernels for cutting-edge AI hardware.
- Company: Graphcore, a leader in AI innovation and part of the SoftBank Group.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, generous leave, and health plans.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI while learning from industry experts.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's or Master's in relevant fields with C/C++ experience.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 500 - 1500 £ per month.
About Us
Graphcore is one of the world’s leading innovators in Artificial Intelligence compute. It is developing hardware, software and systems infrastructure that will unlock the next generation of AI breakthroughs and power the widespread adoption of AI solutions across every industry. As part of the SoftBank Group, Graphcore is a member of an elite family of companies responsible for some of the world’s most transformative technologies. Together, they share a bold vision: to enable Artificial Super Intelligence and ensure its benefits are accessible to everyone. Graphcore’s teams are drawn from diverse backgrounds and bring a broad range of skills and perspectives. A melting pot of AI research specialists, silicon designers, software engineers and systems architects, Graphcore enjoys a culture of continuous learning and constant innovation.
Job Summary
We are looking for a Software Engineering Intern to join a team pioneering the development of high-performance machine learning (ML) kernels for a new generation of AI hardware. In this role, you will contribute to building optimised compute kernels that support a wide range of ML operators—powering applications from convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to large language models (LLMs). You will leverage low-level programming and hardware-aware optimisation techniques to extract maximum performance and efficiency from modern accelerators. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of ML, numerical computing, and scalable systems.
The Team
This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding team at Graphcore. The Kernel Engineering team is responsible for delivering high performance compute library to help customers gain the maximum performance from AI hardware.
Responsibilities And Duties
- Supporting the design and implementation of kernels for linear algebra and tensor ops (GEMM, batched GEMM, convolutions, reductions, elementwise and fused operations) in C++.
- Profile and optimise for the next generation of AI hardware - threading, cache locality, memory layout, and kernel launch efficiency.
- Support performance and correctness - add microbenchmarks, regression tests, numerics validation.
- Debug issues, resolve bugs and generally improve the quality and functionality of the product.
About You
You are open-minded and collaborative with interests in performance optimisation and memory-efficient designs, and you are looking to join a team of experts. You are comfortable to discuss technical tradeoffs, receive feedback and iterate on solutions and you are drawn to technically challenging problems and use analytical reasoning to navigate unfamiliar domains.
Essential Qualifications
- Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Maths, Machine Learning, Data Science, or related field.
- Experience in C/C++.
- Familiarity with Python or scripting tools for automation and testing.
- Understanding of linear algebra, numerical methods, or scientific computing.
- Good problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Courseworks or past experience in using ML frameworks, parallel programming, or code optimisation.
- Exposure to math libraries such as MKL or OpenBLAS.
- Knowledge of performance analysis tools.
Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers flexible working, a generous annual leave policy, private medical insurance and health cash plan, a dental plan, pension (matched up to 5%), life assurance and income protection. We have a generous parental leave policy and an employee assistance programme (which includes health, mental wellbeing, and bereavement support). We offer a range of healthy food and snacks at our central Bristol office and have our own barista bar! 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.
2026 Software Engineering Intern - ML Kernels & Runtime Team in Bristol employer: graphcore
Contact Detail:
graphcore Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land 2026 Software Engineering Intern - ML Kernels & Runtime Team in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Graphcore on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which can seriously boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your C++ skills and understanding linear algebra concepts. Practice coding problems related to performance optimisation and be ready to discuss your thought process during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for AI and machine learning! During interviews, share any personal projects or coursework that relate to ML kernels or optimisations. This will demonstrate your genuine interest and commitment to the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Graphcore team.
We think you need these skills to ace 2026 Software Engineering Intern - ML Kernels & Runtime Team in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Software Engineering Intern role. Highlight any relevant projects or coursework in C++ and machine learning to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about AI and how your background makes you a great fit for our team. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, mention specific examples where you've tackled challenging problems, especially in programming or optimisation. We love seeing how you approach technical challenges!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you're serious about joining our innovative team!
How to prepare for a job interview at graphcore
✨Know Your Kernels
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of machine learning kernels and linear algebra. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach optimising compute kernels for AI hardware, as this will show your understanding of the role and its responsibilities.
✨C++ Proficiency is Key
Since the role requires experience in C++, practice coding problems that involve low-level programming and performance optimisation. You might even want to prepare a small project or example that showcases your skills in C++ and how you’ve tackled performance issues in the past.
✨Familiarise with Performance Tools
Get to know performance analysis tools and libraries like MKL or OpenBLAS. Being able to discuss how these tools can help in profiling and optimising code will demonstrate your readiness to contribute to the team from day one.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Graphcore values collaboration, so be ready to share examples of how you've worked in teams before. Discussing how you handle feedback and iterate on solutions will highlight your open-mindedness and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.