The posting
Location: Bristol, UK Salary: £45,000 per annum 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 programming skills to work on the firmware that helps Graphcore products start up, communicate and run reliably.
As a Graduate Firmware Engineer, you’ll help design, develop and deliver firmware for Graphcore’s next generation products. Working closely with our silicon and hardware teams, you’ll contribute to software that supports hardware bootup, power control, telemetry and monitoring.
You’ll write firmware to Graphcore standards, review code, contribute to technical discussions and help investigate issues. You’ll also work with continuous integration, build systems and Agile practices.
Your team and support
The Firmware team develops the software that powers Graphcore hardware and silicon. We are involved in the design of hardware and software interfaces.
You’ll work with engineers across teams through technical design discussions, code reviews, Agile ceremonies, and practical problem solving. Technical evidence and open discussion guide our decisions, with shared responsibility for product quality.
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 you spot a problem or need support. From day one you’ll contribute your ideas and help colleagues investigate firmware issues.
How you’ll learn and grow
During the two-year programme, you’ll build your understanding of how embedded software enables complex hardware systems through hands-on firmware development.
Work on bootup, power management protocols, telemetry and monitoring, writing the code that manages how our hardware behaves. Investigating issues will build your problem-solving skills, while continuous integration and build systems will show you how firmware is checked and prepared for delivery.
Code reviews and technical discussions with engineers across teams will help you develop your engineering judgement, explain your approach and learn how firmware fits into the wider system.
What we're looking for
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Maths or a related field
- Introductory experience with C or Python
- An understanding of continuous integration, build systems and software packaging best practices
- An interest in real-time embedded software, verification or complex embedded platforms
- Curiosity about server architecture, device drivers, operating system kernel development or server firmware security
- Bring a willingness to learn, ask questions and contribute to technical discussions with colleagues across teams
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.
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 benefits package with a choice of additional options, including private medical insurance and dental cover
- Optional benefits: Dental cover, health cash plan, private medical insurance, cycle to work scheme, give as you earn
We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work.
We’re an equal opportunity employer and recognise that everyone brings different strengths and perspectives. If you need any adjustments during the interview process, just let us know - we’re happy to support you.
Sponsorship
Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme, without requiring visa sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor work visas for our Early Careers opportunities.
Introduction to Graphcore
At Graphcore, we’re building next generation AI compute: from semiconductors and software to systems at datacenter scale. We are proud to be owned by SoftBank Group and work with other companies in the SoftBank family to deliver AI compute to customers working at the AI frontier. Starting your career here means working alongside people with different backgrounds and expertise, from AI researchers to chip designers and software engineers. You’ll learn from each other, bring fresh ideas and help solve challenging problems together.
How to apply and what to expect
To apply, answer the application questions below and upload your CV and cover letter. We’ll let you know the outcome of your application by early December at the latest. If successful, you’ll be invited to complete a technical assessment. Candidates who reach the final stage will then be invited to attend in-person assessments in early spring.
Ready to put your learning into practice? Start your career in a permanent Firmware Engineer role, with two years of hands-on learning through the Graphcore Graduate Programme. Apply now and help shape what comes next.
