Principal Electrical Engineer

About the role

Graphcore is seeking a highly skilled and experienced electrical engineering professional to take on a leadership role in designing, developing, and overseeing electrical infrastructure for high-density AI computing environments. This position requires a technical authority capable of managing complex projects from initial design concepts through to construction, commissioning, and operational readiness. The successful candidate will ensure that all electrical systems are safe, scalable, and resilient, supporting the company's data center and AI infrastructure needs. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, external consultants, and contractors to deliver reliable power solutions that meet industry standards and company requirements, contributing to the growth and operational excellence of Graphcore's data center facilities.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Serve as the primary technical authority for all aspects of electrical infrastructure, from utility connections to the power distribution units within the data center.
• Develop and maintain electrical standards, reference designs, and acceptance criteria to ensure consistency, safety, and compliance across all projects and operational systems.
• Define and implement safety protocols, protection strategies, and maintenance procedures for both AC and DC power systems, including grounding, fault detection, and emergency shutdown procedures.
• Design and specify resilient power solutions capable of supporting dynamic AI computing loads, including energy storage systems, backup generation, and utility interconnection arrangements.
• Evaluate emerging power technologies and recommend solutions based on reliability, efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness to optimize data center performance.
• Conduct technical due diligence, review detailed design documents, and perform failure-mode and risk assessments to identify potential issues and mitigate risks proactively.
• Lead and coordinate external engineering consultants, construction teams, and vendors to ensure project specifications, timelines, and quality standards are met throughout all phases of project execution.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams including IT, silicon, mechanical, and thermal engineering to ensure integrated and optimized infrastructure design.
• Support operational readiness by investigating incidents, performing root-cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions to prevent future failures.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements such as NFPA, IEEE, IEC, UL, and CSA, ensuring all electrical systems are compliant.
• Participate in planning and budgeting activities related to electrical infrastructure projects, providing technical guidance and cost estimates.
• Assist in the development of testing procedures, commissioning plans, and documentation to verify system performance and safety before and after deployment.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and team members, fostering a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Travel approximately 10 percent of the time to oversee project sites, conduct inspections, and coordinate with contractors and vendors.
• Support the ongoing maintenance and upgrade of existing electrical systems to enhance reliability and efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Extensive experience in designing and managing mission-critical electrical infrastructure, particularly within hyperscale data centers, utilities, or semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
• Deep knowledge of medium and low-voltage AC power systems, as well as high-power DC distribution networks.
• Proficiency in power electronics, including rectifiers, inverters, and DC/DC conversion technologies.
• Strong understanding of electrical protection systems, grounding practices, and safety standards applicable to large-scale electrical installations.
• Hands-on experience with utility systems, transformers, switchgear, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and battery storage solutions.
• Familiarity with North American standards such as NFPA, IEEE, UL, IEC, and CSA, and the ability to design systems compliant with these standards.
• Ability to travel approximately 10 percent of the time for site visits, inspections, and project coordination.
• Must reside in or be willing to relocate to Austin, Texas, to be on-site for project management and operational support.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex electrical issues efficiently.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and experience managing technical teams or external consultants.
• Knowledge of project management principles and experience working within budget and schedule constraints.

Nice to have

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or international equivalent, demonstrating recognized expertise and adherence to professional standards.
• Experience with microgrids, behind-the-meter generation, or high-power DC architectures specific to data center environments.
• Background in Tier III or Tier IV data center design, including redundancy and fault-tolerance considerations.
• Knowledge of reliability engineering principles, including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), or functional safety practices.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, Visio, or Bluebeam for design, documentation, and project coordination purposes.
• Active participation in industry standards groups or technical committees related to electrical infrastructure and data center design.

Skills & tools

• Experience with electrical simulation and analysis software such as ETAP or SKM PowerTools.
• Familiarity with simulation environments like PSCAD, EMTP-RV, PLECS, PSIM, or MATLAB/Simulink for modeling electrical systems and transient analysis.

Practical notes

• The company offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, disability and life insurance, commuter benefits, and wellness services.
• Flexible working arrangements are available to accommodate individual needs and project requirements.
• Graphcore is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. The company provides reasonable adjustments for the interview process upon request to ensure all candidates have a fair opportunity to succeed.
• Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their technical expertise through interviews and relevant project experience.
• The role requires on-site presence in Austin, Texas, with occasional travel to project sites for oversight and coordination.