Senior Test Tool Developer

EngineersOfAI; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Graphcore in Austin, TX is seeking a Senior Test Tool Developer to design, develop, and maintain automated test software that validates next-generation AI hardware platforms.

You will collaborate with hardware, firmware, diagnostics, and validation engineers to translate specifications into reliable test solutions, accelerate debugging, and improve engineering productivity across silicon bring-up, validation, and system integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related.
• Experience developing software in Python, C++, or similar.
• Strong Linux software development experience.
• Experience creating automated test frameworks or validation tooling for hardware or embedded systems.
• Ability to interpret hardware specifications and translate technical requirements into automated validation solutions.
• Experience debugging hardware and software interactions.
• Familiarity with Git and modern software development practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent communication.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Desirable: experience validating SoCs or silicon IP.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test software used to validate silicon, IP blocks, and complete hardware platforms.
• Develop low‑level hardware tests from architecture specifications, hardware documentation, and design requirements.
• Build scalable functional, stress, and regression test suites covering subsystem and system‑level validation.
• Create reusable software libraries, utilities, and automation frameworks that improve validation efficiency and engineering productivity.
• Develop automated workflows supporting silicon bring‑up, characterization, regression execution, and manufacturing validation.
• Collaborate closely with hardware design, firmware, diagnostics, and validation engineers to convert technical requirements into automated test solutions.
• Analyze test results, hardware telemetry, and debug data to identify issues and support root cause analysis.
• Investigate and resolve automation failures while continuously improving tool robustness, maintainability, and usability.
• Contribute to continuous integration environments and automated validation infrastructure.
• Produce clear technical documentation covering tooling, automation frameworks, validation methodologies, and best practices.

Skills

Python

C++

Linux

Test frameworks

Hardware validation

Git

Problem solving

Documentation

Communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related

Job description

About us

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 help make its benefits widely accessible.

Graphcore's teams bring together experts from a broad range of technical disciplines, including silicon design, software engineering, systems architecture, and AI research, working collaboratively to solve complex engineering challenges.

Job Summary

Reporting into the Hardware Platform organization, the Senior Test Tool Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the software tools and automation that enable validation of next-generation AI hardware platforms. The role partners closely with hardware, firmware, diagnostics, and validation engineers to transform hardware specifications into reliable automated test solutions that improve product quality, accelerate debugging, and increase engineering productivity throughout silicon bring-up, validation, and system integration.

The Team

The Hardware Platform team develops the software infrastructure, automation frameworks, and validation solutions that enable efficient testing of Graphcore's silicon and platform technologies. Working across multiple engineering disciplines, the team supports hardware bring-up, functional validation, characterization, and regression testing while continually improving automation, tooling, and engineering workflows.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test software used to validate silicon, IP blocks, and complete hardware platforms.
• Develop low‑level hardware tests from architecture specifications, hardware documentation, and design requirements.
• Build scalable functional, stress, and regression test suites covering subsystem and system‑level validation.
• Create reusable software libraries, utilities, and automation frameworks that improve validation efficiency and engineering productivity.
• Develop automated workflows supporting silicon bring‑up, characterization, regression execution, and manufacturing validation.
• Collaborate closely with hardware design, firmware, diagnostics, and validation engineers to convert technical requirements into automated test solutions.
• Analyze test results, hardware telemetry, and debug data to identify issues and support root cause analysis.
• Investigate and resolve automation failures while continuously improving tool robustness, maintainability, and usability.
• Contribute to continuous integration environments and automated validation infrastructure.
• Produce clear technical documentation covering tooling, automation frameworks, validation methodologies, and best practices.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience developing software in Python, C++, or similar programming languages.
• Strong Linux software development experience.
• Experience creating automated test frameworks or validation tooling for hardware or embedded systems.
• Ability to interpret hardware specifications and convert technical requirements into automated validation solutions.
• Experience debugging hardware and software interactions.
• Familiarity with Git and modern software development practices.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within collaborative engineering environments.

Desirable

• Experience validating SoCs or silicon IP.