Director, Silicon Verification Bristol, UK

Applied Intuition Inc.; Bristol; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading AI compute company located in Bristol is seeking a Director of Silicon Verification to define and lead the silicon functional verification strategy. This critical role requires collaboration across various teams to ensure high-quality silicon delivery. The ideal candidate should have proven leadership in silicon verification with experience in methodologies, automation, and tools. The position offers a dynamic environment within a pioneering technology company, contributing to significant advancements in AI technology.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in silicon verification with a track record of successful program execution.
• Strong understanding of hardware design and verification methodologies.
• Experience with debugging strategies and triage processes.

Responsibilities

• Define the long-term vision and strategy forverification.
• Build and lead a globally distributed verification organization.
• Establish best practice processes and verification techniques.
• Drive automation and tooling improvements.
• Collaborate across teams to integrate designs and specifications.

Skills

Leadership

Silicon verification

Automated tooling

Design-for-test (DFT)

Education

Degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Simulation tools

Formal verification methods

Job description

Graphcore is one of the world’s leading innovators in Artificial Intelligence compute. We design hardware, software and systems infrastructure that will unlock the next generation of AI breakthroughs and enable the widespread adoption of AI 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, we share a bold vision: to enable Artificial Super Intelligence and ensure its benefits are accessible to everyone. Our teams bring together diverse expertise from AI research, silicon design, software engineering, and systems architecture. We embrace continuous learning, innovation, and a collaborative culture that pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

Team

The Verification team sits within the Silicon Design organisation. We ensure that the RTL delivered by Logical Design and used by Physical Design team implements Graphcore’s architectural needs and meets the company's quality standards. As a Director of Silicon Verification, you will help lead this multi-site organisation, define verification strategies across multiple silicon programs, and drive best in class execution to ensure high-quality, high-performance silicon delivery.

Role Summary

We are seeking a proven leader to help direct Graphcore’s verification strategy and methodologies. This role sets direction for the verification lifecycle including planning, infrastructure, execution, coverage closure, debug strategy and sign-off for Graphcore’s complex, high performance AI accelerators.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Verification the Director will partner closely with other teams such as Architecture, Logical Design, Physical Design, DFT, Systems as well as Program Management teams to ensure accurate implementation, accelerated debug cycles, high coverage confidence and predictable silicon delivery.

Responsibilities

• Define the long-term vision, roadmap and strategy for silicon functional verification across all Graphcore silicon programs.
• Build, lead, and develop a high performing, globally distributed verification organisation.
• Establish scalable methodologies, leading edge verification techniques, and best practice processes.
• Drive automation, tooling and infrastructure evolution to improve productivity and verification quality.
• Evaluate emerging tools and technologies and drive adoption to deliver competitive advantage.

Technical Ownership

• Own verification planning, execution and sign off for all RTL blocks and top-level SoCs.
• Oversee definition of test plans including functional coverage targets. Drive close through prioritisation of test content and coverage signoff. Iterate plans to close verification gaps.
• Direct debugging strategies, triage processes and root-cause analysis workflows to enhance team productivity.
• Steer integration of verification technologies including formal methods, simulation acceleration/emulation and system level validation.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Ensure high quality feedback to other functions within the Silicon Team.
• Partner with Architecture to influence and refine specifications for verifiability and risk reduction.
• Collaborate with Logical Design to align on design intent, architectural corner cases and test scenarios.
• Work closely with Physical Design and DFT teams to ensure coherent verification of interfaces, timing assumptions and test structures.
• Lead post-silicon debug alignment where needed, ensuring learning cycles feed back into RTL and verification methodology.

Execution & Delivery

• Deliver verification sign off on schedule across multiple parallel projects.