Staff SLT Test Engineer

About the role

Graphcore is seeking a Staff System Level Test (SLT) Test Engineer to join the Product Test and Diagnosis Department in Austin, Texas. In this role, you will own the full lifecycle of SLT strategies for Graphcore's next-generation AI processors, from initial architectural assessment to high-volume manufacturing. You will define the test vision that ensures correct-by-construction silicon behavior while optimizing cost and throughput. This position requires deep collaboration across design, manufacturing, and operations to de-risk product launches. You will be responsible for translating product requirements into robust test programs that validate functionality, performance, and reliability. The role demands leadership in both technical execution and process development for the test organization. You will drive the creation of diagnostics that enable rapid yield analysis and continuous improvement. Ultimately, you will ensure that Graphcore's processors meet the highest standards of quality and performance before reaching customers.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and lead the development of comprehensive SLT hardware and software platforms that support silicon bring-up, long-term characterization, and high-volume production testing.
• Own the end-to-end management of SLT workstreams, translating product and product marketing requirements into detailed test plans that progress from risk mitigation to manufacturing readiness.
• Specify, evaluate, and qualify mechanical and electrical test interfaces, including custom test boards, complex socket solutions, advanced thermal management systems, and precision instrumentation integration with external vendors.
• Create and sustain scalable automation frameworks that control test execution, capture detailed diagnostics and telemetry, and enable rapid analysis of massive data sets to identify trends and anomalies.
• Execute extensive characterization campaigns involving voltage margining across temperature corners, frequency sweep testing, thermal profiling, and high-sensitivity reliability screening to define guard bands and failure mechanisms.
• Perform deep debug and root-cause analysis that spans virtual environments, automated test equipment (ATE), physical bench setups, and high-volume manufacturing floor investigations to resolve complex silicon defects.
• Drive optimization initiatives that improve test coverage, reduce test time per unit, and maximize DPPM (Defects Per Million) targets without compromising product quality or reliability standards.
• Lead the transfer and qualification of test solutions to Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) partners and contract manufacturers to ensure seamless volume production.
• Partner closely with Design for Test (DFT) teams to influence and validate scan architectures, JTAG standards, Built-In Self-Test (BIST) methodologies, MBIST implementations, and boundary scan capabilities.
• Provide technical mentorship to test engineers at multiple levels, guiding project planning, resource allocation, risk assessment, and cross-functional coordination to ensure on-time execution.
• Define test strategy documentation, including test algorithms, test patterns, and failure analysis procedures that become the reference for product and process teams.
• Collaborate with product teams to ensure that test programs evolve alongside design changes, maintaining alignment throughout the product lifecycle from prototype to maturity.
• Establish metrics and reporting structures that provide clear visibility into test effectiveness, yield trends, and manufacturing readiness across all test operations.
• Champion the adoption of new test technologies and methodologies, evaluating their impact on scalability, cost, and time-to-market for Graphcore's AI processors.

Requirements

• Possess professional experience in System-Level Test, production test, characterization, or post-silicon validation specifically for complex semiconductor products.
• Demonstrate a strong command of semiconductor fundamentals, including signal integrity analysis, power delivery networks, board-level design constraints, and advanced packaging technologies.
• Show a solid understanding of Design for Test (DFT) methodologies, including scan chains, JTAG boundary scan, Built-In Self-Test (BIST), Multiple BIST (MBIST) implementations, and IEEE 1149.1 standards.
• Have proven experience developing and maintaining test automation frameworks using scripting languages and test execution tools in a high-volume environment.
• Exhibit expertise in analyzing large datasets from silicon characterization to identify trends, correlate failures, and guide design improvements.
• Bring a methodical approach to debugging silicon issues that require correlating data from simulation, ATE results, bench observations, and manufacturing feedback.
• Hold a background in developing thermal management strategies and instrumentation for high-performance silicon validation and testing.
• Display strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and present technical findings to diverse audiences.

Skills & tools

• Hands-on experience with SLT hardware development, including custom test boards, interface boards, and cabling harness design.
• Proficiency in SLT software development for test execution, control, and data acquisition systems.
• Expertise in building and maintaining test automation infrastructure that integrates with production line controls.
• Advanced capabilities in data analysis, diagnostics development, and telemetry systems to support rapid problem identification.
• Demonstrated success in silicon bring-up activities, including first-pass silicon validation and low-level hardware debugging.
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing test strategy and the processes required to ramp test solutions into high-volume OSAT environments.
• Familiarity with production test challenges, including cost targets, throughput requirements, and field reliability considerations.

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