Principal Engineer, Power Electronics

About the role

Graphcore is developing specialized semiconductors and data center hardware to power AI computing across global workloads. As part of the SoftBank Group, the company is expanding its engineering presence with a new campus in Austin to advance its hardware infrastructure and innovation pipeline. This Principal Engineer, Power Electronics role focuses on delivering robust power solutions that underpin the performance and efficiency of next generation compute systems. The position requires deep expertise in power electronics to translate high level system requirements into resilient hardware implementations. You will work closely with cross functional teams to ensure power delivery meets stringent reliability, scalability, and compliance standards. The role is embedded within a fast growing environment that values technical rigor and practical execution. Success in this position will be measured by the stability and efficiency of the power infrastructure deployed in production data centers.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect power delivery systems spanning from the data center power drop to the chip level, defining end to end strategies for efficiency and reliability.
• Define the power roadmap and coordinate with vendors to align future technology developments with our system requirements and long term product goals.
• Specify hardware and firmware for rack level power shelves while focusing on design resiliency, scalability, and fault tolerance.
• Establish data center power policies, including oversubscription, job scheduling, and monitoring for quality faults to maintain operational integrity.
• Ensure IT power systems remain stable during grid disturbances and maintain grid compatibility through proactive design and testing.
• Apply expertise in VRM, TLDR, and POL technologies to improve board and system level power regulation and transient response.
• Guide ODMs, equipment manufacturers, and internal teams on testing and validation procedures to standardize power qualification methodologies.
• Build and evaluate hardware prototypes to test new power delivery concepts, performance optimizations, and failure modes.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware and firmware issues, collaborating with software and operations teams to resolve systemic problems.
• Maintain compliance with relevant industry standards and regulations, including safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and environmental requirements.
• Partner with system architects to align power strategies with compute, memory, and cooling infrastructure across the data center.
• Drive technical investigations for root cause analysis, using measurement tools and simulation to validate power related hypotheses.
• Contribute to the development of automation frameworks for power monitoring, control, and reporting across the infrastructure stack.
• Mentor junior engineers by providing technical guidance, code reviews, and design feedback to elevate team capability.

Requirements

• Bachelor, Master, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Power Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Proven background in power system architecture, design, and development for high performance computing or data center environments.
• Experience designing rack level hardware, including power distribution, networking, storage, and servers, with attention to redundancy and scalability.
• Technical proficiency in developing and debugging power hardware and firmware, including hands on experience with measurement instruments and test equipment.
• Strong analytical and problem solving capabilities to evaluate complex interactions between power, thermal, and control subsystems.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work with multidisciplinary teams and present technical recommendations to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast paced, deadline driven environment.
• Understanding of relevant industry standards, regulations, and best practices related to power systems, safety, and compliance.
• Experience with power electronics design tools, simulation platforms, and version control practices is expected.
• Willingness to travel as needed for collaboration, vendor meetings, or validation activities within the United States.

Practical notes

This position is based in Milpitas, California, United States, with additional work location options in Austin or San Jose, and remote work within the United States permitted where applicable. Full time engagement is required for this role. No specific compensation details are provided in the source material. Candidates must meet the listed education, experience, and technical requirements. Travel may be required as necessary for business purposes, and the role is subject to standard employment policies and practices. There are no explicit visa sponsorship details or published deadlines mentioned in the source information. The responsibilities and requirements reflect the current needs of the Power Electronics organization as defined by Graphcore.