Staff Programme Manager Bristol, UK

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 datacentre 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.

As a Staff Programme Manager within the Product Test and Diagnosis group you will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and supporting the delivery of manufacturing test solutions for New Product Introductions (NPI). You will develop and integrate plans across Chip Test, Board Test, System Test, Lab, and Silicon Characterisation teams, ensuring their activities are aligned and connected into a cohesive, end-to-end programme that supports manufacturing readiness. Working within the Manufacturing Operations organisation—spanning Manufacturing Technology, Supply Chain, Quality, and Product Test and Diagnosis. You will drive cross-functional alignment and execution. You will maintain visibility of the Graphcore product roadmap to anticipate upcoming technical and operational challenges and ensure Manufacturing Operations is prepared to support future products.

The Product Test and Diagnosis team is responsible for identifying and diagnosing hardware defects introduced during the manufacturing process. The team defines, develops, and executes an end-to-end test strategy spanning silicon, board-level assemblies, server blades, and rack-scale systems. Testing is performed across the full product lifecycle, including manufacturing, and deployed field environments.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Define, own, and communicate the integrated programme plan for Product Test and Diagnosis, covering Manufacturing Test, Lab infrastructure and operations, and Silicon Characterisation activities in support of New Product Introductions (NPI).
• Build and maintain cohesive, end-to-end plans that align the outputs of the Chip Test, Board Test, System Test, Lab, and Characterisation teams with broader Manufacturing Operations and product delivery milestones.
• Manage dependencies and execution across engineering, operations, and manufacturing, ensuring clear scope definition, deliverables, timelines, ownership, and success metrics.
• Coordinate and drive Design for X (DfX) reviews, ensuring timely input from test, characterisation, lab, and manufacturing perspectives into product design decisions.
• Maintain strong cross-functional and multi-regional working relationships within Graphcore and with external partners, including contract manufacturers and key suppliers.
• Provide programme‑level visibility, risk management, and issue resolution, proactively identifying schedule, resource, or technical risks and driving mitigation plans.
• Enhance NPI and New Product Development (NPD) processes by assessing current workflows across test, lab, and characterisation activities, identifying efficiency improvements, and implementing best practices.
• Strong programme and project management skills, with the ability to apply and tailor different delivery methodologies (e.g. waterfall, Agile, Scrum) to suit hardware‑centric, cross‑functional programmes.
• Solid understanding of test and diagnosis solutions across the server product lifecycle, including silicon wafers, packaged devices, PCB assemblies, server blades, rack‑scale systems, and associated lab and characterisation activities.
• Ability to understand and communicate the interactions between hardware design, manufacturing, test, lab infrastructure, and silicon characterisation to provide effective Design for Manufacturing and Test (DfM/DfT) feedback.
• Proven ability to work independently while also driving alignment and execution across cross‑functional and geographically distributed teams through strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience managing complex dependency networks and aligning technical teams with operational and manufacturing constraints.
• Experience in semiconductor, electronics manufacturing, or other high‑mix, high‑volume manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of programme and project management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, MS Project, or equivalent.
• Experience working with advanced suppliers and partners across semiconductor fabrication, PCBA, system manufacturing, and lab infrastructure.
• Demonstrable experience delivering or coordinating manufacturing test, lab, or silicon characterisation programmes in support of NPI.

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.