Director / Senior Principal AI SoC Validation (Bring-up lead)

Graphcore Senior Principal AI SoC Validation (Bring-up lead) Graphcore is a globally recognised leader in Artificial Intelligence computing systems. The company designs advanced semiconductors and data centre hardware that provide the specialised processing power needed to drive AI innovation, while delivering the efficiency required to support its broader adoption. 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. We are opening a new AI Engineering Campus in Bengaluru which will play a central role in Graphcore's work building the future of AI computing. We are developing the next generation of AI compute, a large-scale system-on-chip (SoC) designed to power future high-performance AI systems. As the SoC Validation Lead, you will be responsible for enabling pre-production software to run reliably on new silicon quickly and efficiently, before showing that the silicon meets the highest standards of quality, reliability and functionality, ready for production deployment. You will lead a team delivering post-silicon validation across the full AI SoC, working across silicon, firmware, and platform levels. The role requires a deep technical understanding, strong hands-on debug experience, and the ability to collaborate effectively with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams. Key responsibilities Define and lead post-silicon validation strategy Develop and refine the overall post-silicon validation approach for our AI SoCs, ensuring reliable and timely delivery of validated silicon, architectural correctness, feature robustness, and at-scale system reliability. Drive cross-domain debug and issue resolution Lead investigation and resolution of complex issues spanning silicon, firmware, operating systems, and platform interactions. Ensure that fixes are effective and sustainable. Promote collaboration and shared understanding Work closely with design, software, and validation teams to align on quality objectives and debug priorities. Use data-driven insights and clear communication to maintain focus and alignment across teams. Advance automation and scalable validation Encourage the use of emulation, prototyping, and large-scale validation infrastructure to improve coverage and reduce time to debug. Support continuous improvement Foster a culture that values learning, transparency, and improvement in validation methods, automation, and analysis. Engage with leadership and customers Provide clear and concise updates on validation progress, risks, and quality indicators to executive teams and key partners. Contribute to product readiness assessments and roadmap decisions. About you A systems thinker comfortable working across hardware, software, and integration boundaries. A collaborative leader who builds trust and alignment across diverse teams. Skilled in technical problem solving and debugging complex post-silicon issues. A clear communicator who can simplify complexity and support sound decision-making in fast-paced environments. Committed to developing people and promoting an inclusive, high-performing team culture. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering or equivalent; Master’s preferred. 15 - 20 years in silicon, system, or platform validation, including 5-10 years in technical leadership. Proven experience leading post-silicon validation and bring-up for complex SoCs (AI, GPU, or CPU). Strong understanding of SoC architecture, coherency protocols, power management, and interconnects. Expertise in debug tools, DFT infrastructure, and validation automation frameworks. Proficient in C/C++, Python, and Linux-based environments; experience with large-scale validation clusters is an advantage. Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills. Why Join Us This is an opportunity to play a central role in developing an advanced AI compute platform that pushes the boundaries of performance and efficiency. You will be part of a highly skilled and motivated team, working on technology that will have a significant impact across future AI systems.