Staff Firmware Engineer

Location: Bristol, UK

Department: SW Device

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 datacenter 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

Reporting to the Firmware Manager and working as a member of the Firmware Team, the Senior Staff Firmware Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and delivery of complex firmware systems across Graphcore’s next-generation hardware platforms. 

This role requires significant technical breadth and deep embedded systems expertise. You will contribute to shaping the firmware architecture and design, guide engineering practices, and solve highly challenging problems while maintaining a strong hands-on focus. You will partner closely with hardware, drivers, silicon and platform teams to deliver robust, scalable, production-quality firmware. 

The Team

The Firmware Team develops the low-level software responsible for the complete boot, configuration, and monitoring of Graphcore silicon and hardware platforms. Our work includes: 

• Boot and power sequencing
• Low-level hardware interfaces and drivers
• Telemetry, monitoring and SMBus/BMC data exposure
• Silicon and system bring-up 

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide technical leadership and act as a subject-matter expert for complex firmware features, subsystems, and architecture decisions
• Lead design and development of scalable, maintainable firmware solutions in C, contributing to long-term architecture and system strategy
• Own and deliver critical low-level functionality (e.g., boot flows, embedded real-time logic, platform security, silicon bring-up)
• Perform advanced system debugging using low-level tools (e.g., JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analysers) and drive root-cause analysis for complex issues
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, silicon, platform, and external partners to define requirements and resolve integration challenges
• Ensure high standards of quality, reliability, and security through code reviews, validation improvements, CI/CD, and automated testing
• Mentor engineers and elevate team performance by promoting best practices, improving development processes, and driving continuous engineering excellence

Candidate Profile

Essential:

• Proven industry experience in embedded/firmware engineering using C/C++
• Expertise in designing and delivering real-time embedded systems and complex boot logic
• Strong understanding of modern silicon and hardware interfaces (I2C, I3C, SMBus, SPI, PCIe, DDR, power management, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement complex technical initiatives
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a track record of resolving complex, cross-layer issues
• Ability to define and communicate architectural direction at subsystem or multi-subsystem scale
• Strong communication skills and the ability to document large system designs clearly
• Experience with CI/CD systems, build tools, and modern software engineering practices 

Desirable

• Experience with server architectures or datacentre hardware
• Understanding of server/platform security concepts and their application to firmware
• Experience working directly with silicon vendors or hardware partners
• Knowledge of OS kernel, secure firmware flows, or trusted execution environments
• Experience with device driver development 

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.

Applicants for this position must hold the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support for visa applications