Location: Bristol, UK
Start date: September 2027
Application deadline: Midnight, 29th November 2026
We encourage you to apply early, as we may close applications before the advertised deadline.

The Graduate Programme at Graphcore

Join Graphcore in a permanent role and start your career with two years of hands-on learning. From day one, you’ll be trusted to take ownership, share your ideas and help shape what we’re creating. You’ll tackle challenging problems alongside a team who support your development and are as excited about your success as you are.

What you’ll work on

Put your understanding of computer architecture to work on the choices that shape Graphcore’s next generation of AI hardware.

As a Graduate SoC Architecture Engineer, you’ll help specify, model and evaluate complex system-on-chip (SoC) subsystems, with guidance from experienced architects. You’ll explore how product requirements translate into technical options, design trade-offs and validation plans.

Your work will likely include some of: taking responsibility for the architecture of a chip subsystem or function, modelling architectural features, assessing third-party intellectual property (IP) and supporting silicon bring-up. Working across design, verification, hardware and software teams, you’ll help gather the performance evidence that supports architecture decisions.

Your team and support

The Silicon Architecture team sits within the Silicon group. We stand for practical ambition: clear thinking, careful engineering and curiosity that improves real systems.

You’ll work with mentors and experienced architects through design reviews, modelling, simulation, documentation and discussions with neighbouring teams. You’ll take ownership of defined tasks that grow in scope as you develop your skills.

Simulations, performance data and design constraints help guide our decisions. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions, challenge existing approaches and share ideas for making things better. Take responsibility for your work and speak up when something needs testing, explaining or support.

How you’ll learn and grow

During the two-year programme, you’ll develop your architecture skills through hands-on architectural design + integration, modelling and evaluation of AI acceleration hardware, supported by mentors.

Exploring technical options and running simulations will help you understand how architecture choices affect system behaviour. You’ll learn how to compare trade-offs, document findings and use performance evidence to support a decision.

Design reviews and work across engineering teams will help you connect specifications to implementation and validation. Supporting silicon bring-up will give you experience of how architectural ideas are checked on real hardware, while tasks that grow in scope will build your technical judgement and confidence.

What we’re looking for

A degree, or expected degree, in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or a related field
An understanding of computer architecture or digital systems, with an interest in SoC design, AI hardware or high-performance computing
Programming experience in Python, Rust, C++ or a similar language
Analytical problem-solving skills and clear written and verbal communication, including documenting findings and explaining technical ideas

You can demonstrate these skills through coursework, a dissertation, personal or team projects, research, or other relevant experience. Tell us what you built or investigated, how you approached it and what you learned.

Exposure to register-transfer level (RTL) design, modelling, simulation, PCIe, Ethernet or DDR would be useful. These are additional strengths, rather than essential requirements.

Benefits

Flexible working: Balance your work and personal life with greater flexibility
Retirement planning support: Up to 5% matched pension
Phantom equity: Share in Graphcore’s success
Workplace experience: Enjoy thoughtfully designed office spaces for collaboration, with free food and an on-site barista to support your day
Peace of mind protection: Income protection and life assurance to provide financial security for you and your loved ones
Electric Vehicle Scheme: Choose an electric vehicle and lease it through salary sacrifice
Flexible benefits: Tailor your bene