Fractile’s mission is to enable a new chapter in the AI revolution. We’re pioneering AI innovation where hardware and software join to create something extraordinary, unlocking the power of the world’s largest language models with speed increases of x100. Our team is rapidly expanding, and we're searching for visionary engineers, scientists, and thinkers who share our passion for pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible. If you're ready to join a dynamic group of innovators shaping AI's future, we want to hear from you!

We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to contribute to our next-generation chip designs. As a Physical Design Engineer, you will support the implementation of complex IC physical designs, from synthesis to sign-off. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including logic design, verification, and process technology, to optimise performance, power, and area (PPA) while ensuring design integrity and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the physical implementation of ASIC/SoC designs, including floor planning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and sign-off.
• Work on synthesis, timing analysis (STA), and optimisation to achieve strong PPA metrics.
• Assist in power planning and analysis, addressing IR drop, electromigration, and related effects.
• Ensure design rule check (DRC), layout vs. schematic (LVS), and other physical verification compliance.
• Collaborate with DFT engineers to integrate design-for-test (DFT) structures into the physical implementation.
• Develop flows in EDA tools such as Cadence Innovus, Synopsys Fusion Compiler, Mentor Graphics Calibre, and others.
• Work closely with RTL and architecture teams to support design feasibility, constraints, and physical-aware RTL design.
• Work with advanced AI tools and models to improve productivity, analysis, and design quality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 0–5 years of experience in physical design for advanced technology nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm, or below), including internships.
• Familiarity with EDA tools for place & route, STA, and sign-off.
• Basic understanding of CMOS technology, semiconductor physics, and process limitations.
• Exposure to timing closure, signal integrity, IR drop analysis, and formal verification.
• Proficiency in scripting languages like TCL, Perl, or Python for automation is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, communication, and teamwork in a collaborative design environment.
• Interest in working with advanced AI tools and models as part of the design workflow.
• Experience or coursework in high-performance computing (HPC), AI accelerators, or networking chips is a plus.

Fractile’s mission is to enable a new chapter in the AI revolution. We’re pioneering AI innovation where hardware and software join to create something extraordinary, unlocking the power of the world’s largest language models with speed increases of x100. Our team is rapidly expanding, and we're searching for visionary engineers, scientists, and thinkers who share our passion for pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible. If you're ready to join a dynamic group of innovators shaping AI's future, we want to hear from you!

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior/Principal Physical Design Engineer to contribute to our next-generation chip designs. As a Physical Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end implementation of complex IC physical designs, from synthesis to sign-off, including opportunities for full-chip ownership. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including logic design, verification, and process technology, to optimise performance, power, and area (PPA) while ensuring design integrity and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive the physical implementation of ASIC/SoC designs, including floorplanning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and sign-off, with potential responsibility for full-chip execution.
• Work on synthesis, timing analysis (STA), and optimisation to achieve the best PPA metrics.
• Perform power planning and analysis, addressing IR drop, electromigration, and low-power design techniques.
• Ensure design rule check (DRC), layout vs. schematic (LVS), and other physical verification compliance.
• Collaborate with DFT engineers to integrate design-for-test (DFT) structures into the physical implementation.
• Develop flows in EDA tools such as Cadence Innovus, Synopsys Fusion Compiler, Mentor Graphics Calibre, and others.
• Interface with foundries and process engineers to ensure manufacturability and yield optimisation.
• Work closely with RTL and architecture teams to drive design feasibility, constraints, and physical-aware RTL design.
• Work with advanced AI tools and models to improve productivity, analysis, and design quality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’ Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in physical design for advanced technology nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm, or below).
• Strong proficiency in EDA tools for place & route, STA, and sign-off.
• Solid understanding of CMOS technology, semiconductor physics, and process limitations.
• Experience with low-power design methodologies, power optimisation techniques, and multi-power domain architectures.
• Expertise in timing closure, signal integrity, IR drop analysis, and formal verification.
• Proficiency in scripting languages like TCL, Perl, or Python for automation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, communication, and teamwork in a collaborative design environment.
• Experience in high-performance computing (HPC), AI accelerators, or networking chips.
• Experience or strong interest in leveraging advanced AI tools and models within engineering workflows.

About Graphcore

At Graphcore, we’re building the future of AI compute.

We’re a team of semiconductor, software and AI experts, with deep experience in creating the complete AI compute stack - from silicon and software to infrastructure at datacenter scale.

As part of the SoftBank Group, backed by significant long-term investment, we are delivering key technology into the fast-growing SoftBank AI ecosystem. To meet the vast and exciting AI opportunity, Graphcore is expanding its teams around the world.

We are bringing together the brightest minds to solve the toughest problems, in a place where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact on the company, our products and the future of artificial intelligence.

The Person 

Graphcore’s experienced, skilled, and motivated engineering team is heavily involved in shaping the future of AI. A successful candidate will exhibit exceptional knowledge in Design for Testability (DFT) and will have a strong technical background and experience in DFT methodologies, complemented by a robust, self-motivated work ethic. The ideal candidate should also have a focus on quality and demonstrate a good understanding of the importance of production test on the success of a product. Some hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas is essential: RTL design, simulations and debugging, synthesis, STA.  

The Role: 

We are expanding and looking for an experienced DFT engineers to join the Silicon team. As a part of our team, you will have the opportunity to work on next-generation AI designs targeted for data centers applications. 

Responsibilities: 

• Keep up with the latest industry trends in DFT domain and help adopt the latest DFT techniques and methodologies 

• Work closely with design, verification, physical design and product engineering teams to integrate DFT requirements into the overall design process 

• Define and implement DFT architecture and features for next-generation AI designs and support their verification effort 

• Develop efficient DFT flows and methodology compatible with silicon design flows 

• Work with 3rd party IPs to integrate the provided design into the DFT infrastructure 

• Generate structural test vectors, analyze and improve test coverage 

• Work with the product and test engineering teams to ensure successful silicon bring-up and help identify any silicon failures to enhance yield learning and improvement 

Requirements: 

• Very good understanding of DFT components like JTAG (IEEE 1149.x), IJTAG (IEEE P1687), Core Test (IEEE P1500), SSN (Streaming Scan Network), Test Compression, OCC etc. 

• Experience on developing DFT specifications and driving the implementation of the DFT features 

• Experience in MBIST and BISR implementation and verification is desired 

• Solid understanding of design verification methodologies for validating the DFT features using simulation in pre-silicon designs 

• Exposure to STA constraints development and analysis for DFT modes and SDF simulations would be a plus 

• Experience in Scan based testing and industry standard ATPG tools 

• Knowledge of ATPG pattern verification and gate-level simulation flows using Synopsys VCS and Verdi or other EDA tools 

• Very good knowledge of Digital Integrated Circuits and Systems 

• Hands-on experience with Verilog RTL coding and familiarity with System Verilog   

• Strong scripting and debugging skills using programming languages like Python, TCL, Perl, Shell etc. 

• Exposure to silicon bring-up, post-silicon testing and tester pattern debugging 

• Strong problem-solving skills across various levels of design hierarchies 

• Great team working and communication skills 

Academic Credentials 

• Bachelors or Masters or PhD in Computer engineering/Electrical engineering/Electronics Engineering

Benefits: 

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  

We welcome people of different backgrounds and experiences and are committed to building an inclusive work environment that makes Graphcore a great home for everyone. We are an equal opportunity employer and want to build a work environment where everyone is happy, productive and respectful so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, just let us know.