Integrated Circuit Package Development Engineer

Integrated Circuit Package Development Engineer 

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 

As an Integrated Circuit Package Development engineer, you will develop new package substrates and packaging for our silicon devices. You will develop netlists and constraints files in conjunction with the silicon, circuit and manufacturing engineers, and create the corresponding substrate design files for simulation and manufacture. 
You will generate libraries of structures for re-use within different products, develop methods and automation for placing and checking structures, liaise with the signal and power integrity teams to ensure the substrate design works to the required specification 

The Team  

What we do really makes a difference. 

Our team is at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution, enabling innovators from all industries and sectors to expand human potential with technology. 

Graphcore’s Hardware Engineering Team creates both products for sale in volume production and hardware test & validation systems. These systems allow Graphcore’s customers to develop leading-edge machine-learning solutions for training and inference. 

What you’ll be doing 

Development of package substrates for Graphcore’s family of processors which includes: - 

• Capture of project requirements and constraints 

• netlist generation 

• Ball and bump position optimisation 

• routing studies 

• substrate stack-up analysis in conjunction with SI/PI team 

• via structure generation 

• signal routing, shielding, copper balancing, de-gassing 

• DRC analysis 

• database manipulation to allow extraction for simulation 

• library management 

• automation scripting  

• coordination with suppliers and manufacturing teams 

• ensure manufacturable solutions are adopted 

• work closely with foundry, test and system level design teams to ensure that the package solution is fit for purpose 

• establish close working relationships with internal & external Engineering partners  

• Support of transfer to mass production, analysis of potential yield issues 

What you’ll bring 

We appreciate not everyone will meet all of the criteria. If you meet most of the requirements below and believe you can bring value to this role, we’d love to hear from you.

Essential  

• Demonstrable experience in high-speed substrate design 

• experience in flip-chip ball grid array packages 

• Good communications skills - the ability to work both independently and as part of a team 

• signal constraint management  

• impedance-controlled signals 

• high speed (Gbps) differential-pair routing design 

• design of high-current power delivery 

• Experience in Cadence APD design flow 

• automation scripting 

• design rule checking & report analysis 

• willing to participate in all parts of the development cycle. 

Desirable 

• Strong data analysis skills 

• knowledge of substrate failure mechanisms and how to avoid them 

• experienced in working with leading edge suppliers in Semiconductor Supply Chain 

• Rigorous approach to ensure designs will work correctly first time. 

• Excellent communications skills with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, taking responsibility and willing to participate in all parts of the development cycle. 

What we’ll bring

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 application