Hardware Validation and Debug Engineer - DDR

About the Position

Graphcore, a globally recognized leader in Artificial Intelligence computing systems, is seeking a Hardware Validation and Debug Engineer - DDR to join our team in Bristol, UK. As part of the SoftBank Group, Graphcore designs advanced semiconductors and data center hardware that drive AI innovation. We are expanding our labs in Bristol, which will play a central role in building the future of AI computing.

In this role, you will work with Architecture, Silicon Engineering, Hardware Engineering, and the Firmware team to create and execute the bring-up and debug of our cutting-edge system platforms. Your responsibilities will include developing a detailed understanding of our silicon and platform products, creating and executing Validation and Debug plans, and performing mainly manual testing of systems in the lab with the aid of some automation.

Responsibilities

• Perform Validation and Debug for new hardware platforms.
• Debug PCB, power, signal integrity, and interface issues.
• Validate and debug high-speed memory interfaces and slow-speed interfaces including LPDDR5-9600 memory interfaces, SPI/I2C/I3C/UART.
• Support LPDDR5-9600 initialization, training, timing optimization, margin analysis, and stability validation.
• Analyze DDR timing margins, signal integrity, eye diagrams, and training behavior.
• Identify root causes and drive corrective actions across hardware and firmware domains.
• Create bring-up documentation, test procedures, and debug reports.

Working closely with:

• PCB design engineers
• Power engineers
• Signal integrity engineers
• Embedded software teams

Requirements

• Hardware Debug
• LPDDR validation and tuning
• Signal integrity analysis
• DDR training and margin analysis
• Protocol-level debugging
• Root-cause analysis
• Low-level system integration
• Ability to work independently without daily oversight.
• Independently performs board bring-up and subsystem debug.
• Drives issue resolution across teams.
• Use advanced lab instrumentation including: High-bandwidth oscilloscopes, BERT systems, VNA/TDR equipment.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of PCBA and system-level technologies
• Ethernet validation
• PCIe
• Background knowledge of ATE systems and capabilities
• Ability to code or script automation and data analysis using Python, LabView, and BASH

We Offer

In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers a comprehensive benefits package. We are committed to building an inclusive work environment that welcomes people of different backgrounds and experiences. We provide a flexible approach to interviews and encourage you to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may require.

About the Company

Graphcore is a globally recognized leader in Artificial Intelligence computing systems. The company designs advanced semiconductors and data center hardware that provide the specialized processing power needed to drive AI innovation, while delivering the efficiency required to support its broader adoption. 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.