Principal Board Test Engineer

Graphcore; Bristol; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge AI technology company in Bristol seeks a Principal Board Test Engineer to drive innovative testing strategies for complex Circuit Card Assemblies. The ideal candidate will possess extensive expertise in electronics, demonstrate proficiency in automated testing tools, and have a track record in managing manufacturing processes. The role offers a competitive salary, flexible working conditions, and comprehensive benefits, including medical insurance and parental leave. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship.

Benefits

Flexible working

Private medical insurance

Generous annual leave policy

Pension matched up to 5%

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Broad expertise in manufacturing test for advanced electronic Circuit Card Assemblies.
• Strong background in electronics fundamentals and defect mechanisms.
• Experience with JTAG and automated test development.
• Proven capability in managing test systems.
• Strong ability to influence and communicate technical concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of advanced testing strategies for Circuit Card Assemblies.
• Design experiments and evaluation frameworks for team success.
• Establish evaluation criteria for test performance.
• Architect test strategies including inspection and functional tests.
• Oversee solutions deployment ensuring scalability and reliability.

Skills

Expertise in manufacturing test of complex electronic Circuit Card Assemblies

Knowledge of electronics fundamentals

Proficiency in JTAG boundary scan

Experience with test systems programming

Ability to create evaluation frameworks

Strong communication skills

Tools

Lab test instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)

Automation tools (Python, Linux)

Job description

About Graphcore

At Graphcore, we’re building the future of AI compute.We’re a team of semiconductor, software and AI experts, with deep experience in creating the complete AI compute stack - from silicon and software to infrastructure at datacenter scale.As part of the SoftBank Group, backed by significant long-term investment, we are delivering key technology into the fast-growing SoftBank AI ecosystem.To meet the vast and exciting AI opportunity, Graphcore is expanding its teams around the world.We are bringing together the brightest minds to solve the toughest problems, in a place where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact on the company, our products and the future of artificial intelligence.

Job Summary

The Product Test and Diagnosis (PTD) team are seeking an experienced Principal Board Test Engineer to lead development of advanced manufacturing test strategies for complex Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs). This role requires a comprehensive understanding of electronics and the CCA manufacturing processes, combined with the creativity and technical depth needed to further Graphcore’s product development.

You will design and direct innovative test approaches that not only maximise defect coverage and process efficiency but also shape the future direction of test methodologies within the team. The role demands independent judgment in selecting and developing methods, defining technical strategies, and establishing evaluation criteria that influence product and team outcomes. As a highly influential senior engineer, you will communicate complex concepts clearly, guide cross-functional alignment, and contribute to both the strategic and operational success of the PTD team.

The Team

The Product Test and Diagnosis team is responsible for detecting, diagnosing, and managing hardware defects across chips, boards, and full systems, both in manufacturing and in the field. As a senior technical leader, you will help define how PTD evolves its capability, influence engineering direction across teams, and mentor engineers across multiple disciplines.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Drive creative and impactful test strategies that advance manufacturing capability and product defect coverage.

• Apply deep technical and implementation knowledge to design experiments, evaluation frameworks, and projects that directly contribute to the team’s long-term success.

• Develop innovative methods, techniques, and test architectures for advanced CCA designs.

• Exercise independent technical judgment in selecting methods, tools, and techniques to achieve high defect coverage with high diagnostic resolution.

• Establish evaluation criteria for test performance and quality metrics, influencing both design teams and manufacturing partners.

• Lead the resolution of complex test issues through advanced debugging, root cause analysis, and cross-domain reasoning.

• Architect sophisticated test strategies including optical and X-ray inspection along with In-circuit, boundary scan, and functional test methods .

• Oversee deployment of solutions into production, ensuring scalability, reliability, and alignment with long-term manufacturing strategies.

• Communicate complex technical concepts to colleagues and stakeholders in accessible, actionable terms.

• Provide high-level guidance to hardware, silicon, software, and system engineering teams to ensure cohesive design-for-test strategies.

• Oversee external vendors, suppliers, and CEM ensuring alignment with Graphcore’s technical and quality requirements.

• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, fostering development and maintaining high engineering standards within PTD.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Broad, long-standing expertise in manufacturing test of advanced, high-complexity electronic Circuit Card Assemblies.

• Deep, authoritative knowledge of electronics fundamentals, CCA manufacturing processes, and defect mechanisms.

• Strong expertise in JTAG 1149.x boundary scan and associated automated test development including iJTAG and embedded/processor controlled functional test.

• Significant experience architecting, programming, and debugging bed-of-nails MDA/ ICT and other board-level test systems.

• Proven capability in implementing ISP/ OBP solutions with appropriate adherence to security requirements.

• High proficiency with standard laboratory test instruments (oscilloscopes, SMUs, logic analyzers, PSUs, etc.) and remote test workflows.

• Demonstrated ability to independently create methods, evaluation frameworks, and technical criteria to achieve impactful results.

• Strong ability to influence across disciplines and communicate complex technical concepts effectively.

• A proven track record of managing suppliers and manufacturing partners.

Desirable

• Experience with microcontroller development environments and debug tools.

• Familiarity with Python, Linux, Bash, Git or similar tooling for advanced automation.

• Prior leadership of technical initiatives, cross-functional projects, and engineering process improvements.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers flexible working, a generous annual leave policy, private medical insurance and health cash plan, a dental plan, pension (matched up to 5%), life assurance and income protection. We have a generous parental leave policy and an employee assistance programme (which includes health, mental wellbeing, and bereavement support). We offer a range of healthy food and snacks at our central Bristol office and have our own barista bar! We welcome people of different backgrounds and experiences; we’re committed to building an inclusive work environment that makes Graphcore a great home for everyone. We offer an equal opportunity process and understand that there are visible and invisible differences in all of us. We can provide a flexible approach to interview and encourage you to chat to us if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Applicants for this position must hold the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support for visa applications