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Staff Power and Performance Validation Engineer

Other • Principal • On-site • Full-time • United States Austin, USA

Graphcore is seeking a Power and Performance Validation Lead within Architecture and Validation to drive validation strategy and execution for advanced AI compute silicon and systems, across pre-silicon and post-silicon environments, ensuring efficiency, reliability and scalability.

Responsibilities

  • ▹Define and lead validation strategies for power, thermal and performance characterization of AI compute silicon and platforms
  • ▹Contribute to planning and execution of validation activities across multiple projects and milestones
  • ▹Develop comprehensive validation plans covering functional, stress, workload and corner-case scenarios
  • ▹Lead post-silicon bring-up and characterization activities for power and performance validation
  • ▹Drive validation of CPU, memory, interconnect and high-speed I/O subsystems under complex workload conditions
  • ▹Develop scalable automation frameworks, regression infrastructure and reporting tools using Python
  • ▹Design and execute benchmark workloads, parameter sweeps and performance experiments
  • ▹Collaborate with architecture, RTL, firmware, software and systems teams to debug complex technical issues
  • ▹Define validation metrics, pass/fail criteria and reporting methodologies
  • ▹Guide development of custom workload generators and micro-benchmarks where required
  • ▹Analyze power, thermal and performance data to identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements
  • ▹Contribute to continuous improvement of validation processes, tooling and engineering practices

Requirements

  • ▹Strong experience in power and performance validation, silicon characterization or system performance engineering
  • ▹Deep understanding of modern SoC architecture, including CPU, memory, interconnect and high-speed I/O technologies
  • ▹Strong Linux systems knowledge and low-level performance analysis experience
  • ▹Strong Python programming skills for automation, orchestration and data analysis
  • ▹Experience with benchmarking and profiling tools such as stress-ng, fio, perf, iperf or equivalent
  • ▹Experience debugging complex hardware and software interactions
  • ▹Ability to define structured validation methodologies, workload models and test strategies
  • ▹Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large datasets and identify bottlenecks
  • ▹Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • ▹Ability to work independently on complex technical tasks while collaborating effectively

Nice to have

  • ▹Experience with AI accelerator, GPU or high-performance compute architectures
  • ▹Experience with pre-silicon modelling or simulation environments
  • ▹Knowledge of power management technologies and silicon characterization methodologies
  • ▹Programming experience in C/C++ for low-level system or benchmark development
  • ▹Familiarity with hardware instrumentation and telemetry systems
  • ▹Experience working with high core-count or large-scale compute systems
  • ▹Experience contributing to shared validation infrastructure and engineering best practices

Soft skills

Strong communication and cross-functional collaborationAbility to work independently on complex technical tasks

What we offer

  • ▹Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision)
  • ▹Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
  • ▹Disability and life insurance
  • ▹401(k) retirement plan
  • ▹Commuter benefits and wellness services
  • ▹Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
  • ▹Flexible working arrangements

About the company

Graphcore is one of the world's leading innovators in Artificial Intelligence compute, developing hardware, software and systems infrastructure that powers the next generation of AI breakthroughs. As part of the SoftBank Group, Graphcore brings together AI research specialists, silicon designers, software engineers and systems architects in a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

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