Graphcore
Principal Software Architect
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Principal Software Architect
About 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 enjoys a culture of continuous learning and constant innovation.
Job Summary
We are looking for a Principal Architect to define and drive the architectural vision of the software stack for the Graphcore ML accelerator.
In this role, you will:
- Shape the architecture of our software ecosystem.
- Maintain a deep understanding of the product’s hardware and software components, their interfaces, and how they interact.
- Be an excellent communicator and proactively convey the software architecture.
- Bring a pragmatic, trade-off-aware approach to decision-making, fully recognising the impact of architectural choices on product direction and engineering outcomes.
The Team
The software architecture team is responsible for defining, maintaining, and communicating the overarching architecture of our software stack, from firmware to ML frameworks.
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The team works within the wider software organisation, partnering closely with engineering teams who deliver against this architectural vision.
Responsibilities And Duties
- Define & document the software architecture of the software stack.
- Work across different software domains to ensure a coherent end-to-end architecture.
- Clearly communicate the software architecture to engineering teams.
- Ensure teams understand:
- Key software architectural components.
- Interfaces.
- Guiding principles.
- Continuously maintain the software architecture as the product evolves. Communicate architectural changes proactively to all relevant stakeholders.
- Stay informed about trends and developments in the ML/software ecosystem.
- Assess the architectural impact of new technologies.
- Remain aware of the following constraints on the software architecture:
- Usability
- Performance
- Reliability
- Maintainability
- Testability
- Security
- Observability
- Prototyping and validating architectural concepts through proof-of-concept implementations.
- Contribute to future and/or related product definitions with a forward-looking mindset, understanding and communicating the impact of future direction on software architecture.
- Work with the HW and Silicon architects to ensure the needs of the software stack are met.
- Ensure the software architecture meets the product requirements.
- Work closely with:
- Engineering
- Product
- Leadership
- Partners To ensure alignment between business goals and architectural direction.
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Candidate Profile
Essential
- Expertise in one or more of these technologies:
- Firmware
- Drivers
- ML frameworks (PyTorch, Triton, etc.)
- Collectives
- HPC
- Tooling
- C & C++
- CPU architectures
- Technical expertise in the ML accelerator software space.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Collaborative mindset and ability to influence.
- Pragmatic approach to decision making, acutely aware of trade-offs and implications.
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience in a previous architecture role.
Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers:
- Flexible working.
- Generous annual leave policy.
- Private medical insurance and health cash plan.
- A dental plan.
- Pension (matched up to 5%).
- Life assurance and income protection.
- Generous parental leave policy.
- Employee assistance programme (including health, mental wellbeing, and bereavement support).
On-site benefits:
- A range of healthy food and snacks.
- Own barista bar!
Graphcore values and welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is committed to building an inclusive work environment that makes Graphcore a great home for everyone. They offer an equal opportunity process and recognise visible and invisible differences in all individuals.
They can provide a flexible approach to interviews and encourage applicants to discuss any reasonable adjustments required.
Note: Applicants for this position must hold the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, at this time, visa sponsorship or support for visa applications cannot be provided.
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