Principal Software Architect, Graphcore
More information about location
2+ days a week in office
Advanced AI systems and services
Be an early applicant
Advanced AI systems and services
501-1000 employees
Be an early applicant
More information about location
2+ days a week in office
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To make machine learning faster, easier and more intelligent.
Role
Who you are
- You are an excellent communicator, and you proactively convey the software architecture
- You bring a pragmatic, trade-off-aware approach to decision-making, fully recognising the impact of architectural choices on product direction and engineering outcomes
- 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 skill, both written and verbal
- Collaborative mindset and ability to influence
- Pragmatic approach to decision making, being very aware of trade-offs and implications
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience in a previous architecture role
What the job involves
- 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 and maintain a deep understanding of the product’s hardware and software components, their interfaces, and how they interact
- The software architecture team is responsible for defining, maintaining and communicating the overarching architecture of our software stack, from firmware to ML frameworks
- The team works within the wider software organisation, partnering closely with engineering teams who deliver against this architectural vision
- Define & document the software architecture of the software stack
- Work across different software domains to ensure a coherent end too end architecture
- Clearly communicate the software architecture to engineering teams
- Ensure teams understand key software architectural components, interfaces, and 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
- Be aware of the usability, performance, reliability, maintainability, testability, security and observability constraints on the software architecture
- 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 product the needs of software stack
- Ensure the software architecture meets the product requirements
- Work closely with engineering, product, leadership, and partners to ensure alignment between business goals and architectural direction
Our take
The hardware required to train AI models comes at a high cost, both financially and environmentally, producing millions of dollars in expenses and hundreds of tons of greenhouse gases. In response, Graphcore develops accelerator chips designed to expedite AI system training while significantly reducing power consumption.
AI accelerators like those crafted by Graphcore specialise in enhancing specific AI applications, such as artificial neural networks, deep learning, and machine learning. Utilising multicore designs and prioritising low-precision arithmetic or in-memory computing, these accelerators elevate the performance of large AI algorithms, achieving breakthrough results in natural language processing and computer vision.
Graphcore has ambitious plans to create an AI supercomputer, aiming to be one of the most powerful in its class. However, progress on this has extended beyond its planned 2024 debut, and the company was purchased by Softbank later that year. Though the acquisition by the Japanese multinational lowered Graphcore's valuation and highlighted structural problems in the local financing of UK tech pioneers, the buyout will undoubtedly aid the company in its ambitions to shape the future of AI computing.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Dec 2020
$222m
SERIES E
Feb 2020
$150m
SERIES D
Total funding: $682m
Company benefits
- Work-Life Balance: We believe you should have a good work-life balance. Everyone's situation is different, so we offer flexible working arrangements and start and finish times, allowing you to choose when to work from home or come into the office
- Wellbeing: We want to ensure that our employees have the resources and support they need to prioritise their health and wellbeing
- Healthcare: We offer Private Medical Insurance (PMI) to our employees to help them take care of their health and that of their loved ones
- Progression: We prioritise learning and development as an integral part of our culture at Graphcore. Our Talent Development team is dedicated to equipping all our employees with the necessary tools, resources, and support to enhance their skills and reach their full potential in their careers
- Pension: We believe that our employees deserve the best when it comes to planning for their future
- Income Protection: Graphcore understands that unforeseen circumstances can happen, and we want to ensure our employees have the necessary financial security in place
Company HQ
Old City, Bristol, UK
Leadership
Nigel Toon
(Co-Founder & Exec Chair)Previously the President and CEO at picoChip Designs (processors for telecoms). As well as the VP and GM of Europe at Altera (semiconductors, merged with Intel).
Simon Knowles
(Co-Founder & CTO)Founded two successful semiconductor companies, Element14 and Icera, for a combined value of over $1 billion.
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