Principal Debug Validation Engineer
The Principal Debug Validation Engineer at Graphcore will lead post-silicon debug and validation activities for next-generation AI compute silicon and systems. This role involves collaborating with architecture, RTL, firmware, software, and systems teams to improve debug methodologies, accelerate issue resolution, and strengthen validation coverage. The position is based in Austin, Texas, United States.
Key responsibilities include planning, designing, developing, and debugging silicon validation tests in bare metal C/C++ on FPGA/Emulator prior to first silicon, deploying silicon validation tests on first silicon and debugging them, developing automated test frameworks and regression test suites in Python to optimize validation efficiency, collaborating closely with engineers from various disciplines, analyzing test results to identify and debug failures/defects, contributing to shared test and validation infrastructure, and providing feedback to architects.
Candidates should have strong experience in bare metal environments, good knowledge of SoC and platform architectures, expertise in debug infrastructure and post-silicon debug methodologies, strong programming skills in Python, C, or debug scripting languages such as CMM, and exceptional communication skills. Experience with the post-silicon validation process applied in digital ASIC environments, strong Linux and Python experience, deep knowledge of scan, DFT, JTAG, and trace infrastructure, and strong debug skills including fault tree analysis, failure isolation, fishbone methodologies, and system-level debug techniques are also essential.
Graphcore is a semiconductor company that develops accelerators for AI and machine learning. It has introduced a massively parallel Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) that holds the complete machine learning model inside the processor. The company is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, and has offices in Austin, Texas, United States.
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. The company offers a collaborative, cross-functional development environment focused on validating cutting-edge, high-performance AI chips and platforms. Employees have the opportunity to work on new product introductions and post-silicon validation, contributing to the advancement of AI technology.