Principal SoC Architect

Principal SoC Architect

Full-Time 90000 - 110000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
graphcore

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and integrate cutting-edge silicon devices for AI acceleration.
  • Company: Join Graphcore, a leader in AI compute technology backed by SoftBank.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, health plans, gym membership, and matched pension.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture with flexible interview processes and excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI innovation and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Electronic Engineering or Computer Science; strong software development skills.

The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.

About Graphcore

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.

Job Summary

Our team is at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution, enabling innovators from all industries and sectors to expand human potential with technology. The availability of specialised artificial intelligence compute will be a decisive factor in AI’s rate of progress. Graphcore allows innovators to go further, faster. What we do really makes a difference.

Reporting to the Director of Silicon Architecture, the SoC Architects are responsible for the design, specification, modelling and integration of sub-systems within complex, high performance and highly integrated silicon devices at the forefront of AI acceleration technology. The role involves close collaboration with other groups, including architecture, silicon design, verification, hardware and software teams.

The Team

The Silicon Architecture Team sits within the COO group. The SoC architects are responsible for the architectural specification, integration, modelling, validation and evaluation of numerous critical sub-systems, including high-speed interfaces for our upcoming AI acceleration platforms.

Responsibilities And Duties

  • Defines team infrastructure and processes
  • Distilling product requirements and their effects on SoC/platform design trade-offs
  • Collaborating with processor, SoC and system architects to determine optimal solutions
  • Providing technical knowledge to silicon design, verification, and hardware engineers to ensure implementation correctness
  • Good experience with potential hard and soft third-party IP and liaising with third party IP vendors
  • Design and specification of performant SoC sub-systems and their associated integrations
  • Manages queries for the silicon bring-up, characterisation and evaluation activities as required
  • Drives delivery and planning of technical objectives
  • Advise in planning for infrastructure and processes
  • Silicon Architecture Team representation within cross-functional working groups
  • Mentors senior technical engineers

Candidate Profile

Essential

  • Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or related subject
  • Experience in the technical specification of complex silicon SoC devices
  • Strong software development experience
  • Solid understanding of complex computer/SoC architecture
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Strong experience in writing and developing technical specifications
  • In depth knowledge of RTL development and verification processes
  • Be a self-starter, able to motivate and support team members
  • Ability to work across teams and programming languages

Desirable

  • Architecture modelling experience in Python/C++/Rust
  • Experience of machine learning or massively parallel computing systems
  • Verilog
  • Knowledge of one or more of DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, on-chip networks

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, annual leave policy, medical and dental health plans, a gym card and employee pension (matched up to 4%). We review our benefits on a yearly basis to ensure we offer a valuable and rewarding benefits programme to our employees. 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.

Principal SoC Architect employer: graphcore

Graphcore is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Bristol and London, where innovation thrives. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities to engage in cutting-edge AI technology while enjoying benefits like flexible working, generous leave policies, and comprehensive health plans. Our inclusive culture fosters collaboration among diverse talents, ensuring that every team member can make a meaningful impact on the future of artificial intelligence.

graphcore

Contact Details:

graphcore Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal SoC Architect

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at graphcore or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to graphcore.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like graphcore.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

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We think you need these skills to ace Principal SoC Architect

Silicon Design
SoC Architecture
Technical Specification
Software Development
RTL Development
Verification Processes
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at graphcore.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at graphcore and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at graphcore

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If graphcore uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.