The posting
About the job
Turn board design insight into reliable tests that detect manufacturing defects in Graphcore’s hardware.
As a Senior Board Test Engineer in Bristol, you’ll develop manufacturing tests for Graphcore’s advanced electronic products. You’ll focus on printed circuit board assemblies and the faults that affect their operation.
Your work will help improve defect coverage across the test and inspection tools used by contract electronics manufacturers. You’ll help the team detect and manage hardware faults arising during manufacturing and product use.
You’ll analyse PCB designs for testability and manufacturing risks, then develop boundary scan and embedded functional tests. You’ll also diagnose complex electronic faults down to component level.
The role takes your test solutions beyond development, through deployment and support in factory and field environments.
The team and culture
The Product Test and Diagnosis team detects and manages hardware defects across chips, boards and finished systems. Its work covers manufacturing sites and products in the field.
You’ll work closely with Hardware Design and Manufacturing Operations, linking design analysis with manufacturing test needs. You’ll also work with software, silicon design and external board test partners on complex hardware problems.
What we’re looking for
- Strong electronics fundamentals and experience in manufacturing test for advanced electronic systems.
- Understanding of PCB manufacturing, surface-mount assembly, failure mechanisms, and automated optical and X-ray inspection capabilities.
- Experience developing JTAG 1149 boundary scan test solutions.
- Awareness of bed-of-nails testing (ICT/MDA) and high-volume in-system or on-board programming techniques (ISP/OBP).
- Ability to solve problems in complex electronic systems and diagnose defects down to component level.
- Clear communication and the ability to work with internal engineering teams and external board test partners.
While we have outlined a set of requirements, we value transferable skills and diverse experiences. We also welcome engineers returning to the profession after a career break, including through returnship routes.
Benefits
- Flexible working: Balance your work and personal life with greater flexibility
- Generous leave: Take time to rest, recharge and enjoy life outside of work
- 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, cycle to work scheme and dental cover
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 have the legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa applications for this role.
Access to controlled technology
Some roles at Graphcore involve access to technology subject to U.S. export control regulations. Depending on the role, we may need to assess whether export authorisation is required, taking account of factors such as work location, citizenship and immigration status. Where authorisation is required, this may affect whether or when you can start the role. We’ll explain any relevant requirements during the recruitment process.
Join the Team at Graphcore
Graphcore is one of the world’s leading innovators in Artificial Intelligence compute. It is developing hardware, software and systems infrastructure that will unlock the next generation of AI breakthroughs and power the widespread adoption of AI solutions across every industry.
As part of the SoftBank Group, Graphcore is a member of an elite family of companies responsible for some of the world’s most transformative technologies. Together, they share a bold vision: to enable Artificial Super Intelligence and ensure its benefits are accessible to everyone.
Graphcore’s teams are drawn from diverse backgrounds and bring a broad range of skills and perspectives. A melting pot of AI research specialists, silicon designers, software engineers and systems architects, Graphcore brings together deep expertise to solve complex problems and deliver meaningful progress in AI compute.
Bring your board test expertise to Graphcore. Apply for the Senior Board Test Engineer role.



