Senior Linux Distribution & Validation Engineer

AI Startups UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Generous leave

Pension match

Phantom equity

Office spaces and free food

Barista on site

Income protection

Private medical insurance

Dental cover

Health plan

Cycle to work

Give as you earn

Job summary

Graphcore is seeking an experienced systems engineer to build and maintain the Linux distribution foundation that powers its AI hardware platform. You will develop production-ready images from upstream distributions and shape how releases are built, tested and deployed.

You will implement automated pipelines, run Linux test suites and diagnose issues across build and validation flows. This role offers hands-on engineering with clear impact and growth opportunities within a fast-paced team.

Qualifications

• Strong practical experience working in Linux environments.
• Experience building or maintaining automated CI/CD pipelines for reliable engineering workflows.
• Proficiency in Python, Bash or similar scripting languages.
• Experience with Linux image creation, provisioning or system installation.
• Ability to diagnose failures in automated build or test environments.
• Confidence using established tools while continuously improving engineering quality.

Responsibilities

• Build the Linux distribution foundation turning upstream software into trusted Graphcore platform releases.
• Help create the Linux distribution that powers Graphcore AI systems.
• Produce production-ready system images from proven upstream distributions.
• Define how releases are built, validated and prepared for deployment.
• Build and improve automated pipelines and diagnose issues across build and validation flows.
• Introduce controlled configuration and tuning changes with evidence-led validation.
• Hands-on systems engineering with visible impact.
• Help define reliable processes for a new team building a critical part of Graphcore’s platform.

Skills

Linux experience

CI/CD pipelines

Python

Bash scripting

Linux image creation

Troubleshooting

Engineering quality

Job description

Senior: GBP 73,500 - 99,500
Staff: GBP 97,300 - 131,700

Subject to alignment to the responsibilities and duties of the role - we currently have multiple positions available at both Senior and Staff level.

About the job

Build the Linux distribution foundation that turns upstream software into trusted Graphcore platform releases.

You will help create the Linux distribution that powers Graphcore AI systems. The team produces production-ready system images from proven upstream distributions.

Your work will shape how releases are built, validated and prepared for deployment. You will strengthen the engineering path from upstream Linux software to dependable platform releases.

You will build and improve automated pipelines, run established Linux test suites, and diagnose issues across build and validation flows. As the platform evolves, you will introduce controlled configuration and tuning changes with evidence-led validation.

This is hands-on systems engineering with visible impact. You will help define reliable processes for a new team building a critical part of Graphcore’s platform.

The team and culture

You will join one of Graphcore’s newest engineering teams, helping shape its culture from the start. It is a small, co-located team where ownership matters and progress is visible.

Work happens through close technical discussion, practical problem-solving and evidence-led decisions. Ideas are challenged openly, and the best path wins regardless of hierarchy.

You will report to a leader who values technical credibility and invests in people’s growth. The team moves with pace, takes responsibility and changes direction when the evidence demands it.

What we're looking for

• Strong practical experience working in Linux environments

• Experience building or maintaining automated CI/CD pipelines for reliable engineering workflows

• Proficiency in Python, Bash or similar scripting languages

• Experience with Linux image creation, provisioning or system installation

• Ability to diagnose failures in automated build or test environments

• Confidence using established tools while continuously improving engineering quality

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
• 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 have the legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa applications for this role.

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.