Lead Bring-up & Characterisation Engineer

About the role

You will spearhead the bring-up and characterisation processes for our silicon devices and system platforms. This role requires you to build and lead a new team from the ground up to ensure our hardware meets stringent performance, reliability, and quality standards before customer delivery. You will own the end-to-end validation flow, translating architectural intent into rigorous test methodologies that prove silicon readiness. This position is pivotal in establishing the foundational processes that define how we measure and guarantee device health at every stage. You will act as the primary technical authority for all aspects of device characterisation and initial productisation. The role demands a hands-on expert who can dive into low-level details while maintaining a strategic view of production scalability. Your work will directly influence the reliability of products shipped to our customers and the efficiency of our manufacturing operations.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop comprehensive characterisation plans and automated testing workflows that establish baseline performance metrics for new silicon.
• Analyse performance data across silicon and system platforms to identify outliers, trends, and potential failure mechanisms.
• Collaborate with architecture, silicon, hardware, operations, and product teams to resolve technical issues and align on test objectives.
• Lead and grow a new team, defining the strategy, processes, and standards for bring-up and characterisation activities.
• Influence product design by providing early characterisation feedback and establishing new technical capabilities for future iterations.
• Implement measurement automation solutions to increase test coverage, reduce manual effort, and improve data consistency.
• Utilise scripting for test automation to create robust, reusable frameworks that accelerate the characterisation of complex devices.
• Leverage expertise in high-speed digital interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, and DDR to validate protocol compliance and signal integrity.
• Utilise ATE systems to execute characterisation tests, debug failures, and ensure that all hardware meets predefined specifications.
• Document all procedures, results, and methodologies to create a knowledge base that supports scalable and repeatable testing.
• Partner with operations to transfer characterisation methodologies into manufacturing environments, ensuring smooth production ramp-up.
• Drive the creation of detailed characterisation reports that communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Establish standardised metrics and KPIs that quantify the health and performance of silicon across different product generations.
• Act as a subject matter expert, providing guidance and training to cross-functional teams on characterisation best practices.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent practical experience in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Possess a background in silicon digital device design, bring-up, and characterisation from previous professional experience.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of silicon process technology and its influence on system and transistor-level performance.
• Show expertise in high-performance processors, SoC architectures, and high-speed interfaces including PCIe, Ethernet, and DDR.
• Exhibit proficiency in measurement automation, data analysis, and script development for testing using common programming languages.
• Have hands-on experience with ATE systems and the ability to interpret complex test results to drive debug efforts.
• Provide a proven history of delivering technical results as a manager, project lead, or individual contributor in a fast-paced environment.
• Display strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and drive projects to completion with minimal supervision.
• Communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal, to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Be willing to occasionally work extended hours to meet critical project milestones and support manufacturing ramp activities.

Nice to have

• Experience with PCBA and system-level technologies to provide a more holistic view of product validation.
• A background in project management methodologies and tools to help organise team workflows and deliverables.

Practical notes

This role is based in Bristol, United Kingdom, and requires physical presence in the office. The position is full-time, and candidates must be eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship. We operate with a flexible work policy, allowing for a hybrid model that utilises our collaborative office spaces when necessary. Travel is not required for this role. We are an equal opportunity employer and offer interview adjustments upon request to ensure accessibility for all candidates. Please note that this position does not involve any visa sponsorship.

About the company

Graphcore has built a new type of processor for machine intelligence to accelerate machine learning and AI applications for a world of intelligent machines.