NPI Product Engineer

About Us Axelera AI is not your regular deep-tech startup. We are creating the next-generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advancing humanity and improve the world around us. In just four years, we have raised a total of $370 million and have built a world-class team of 220+ employees (including 49+ PhDs with more than 40,000 citations), both remotely from 18 different countries and with offices in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, the UK, headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Netherlands. We have also launched our Metis™ AI Platform, which achieves a 3-5x increase in efficiency and performance, and have visibility into a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million. Our unwavering commitment to innovation has firmly established us as a global industry pioneer. Are you up for the challenge? Position Overview You'll own Silicon Product Engineering and our Bristol validation lab end-to-end — from tapeout through NPI to volume production — and lead the teams that get us there. The NPI Engineering Manager and Lab Manager report to you; you report to the executive team and partner closely with Design, Sales, and our external manufacturing ecosystem. This is a director-level leadership role. It needs someone with the technical depth to make sound ATE, NPI and OSAT calls and earn senior engineers' respect, plus the commercial judgement to own budgets, headcount, and the day-to-day running of two technical departments as we scale across concurrent chip programs. Key responsibilities: Product engineering & strategy * The product engineering roadmap across all silicon programs, from tapeout planning to high-volume manufacturing * ATE strategy and major NPI decisions: build-vs-buy, test-coverage trade-offs, OSAT selection * Tapeout-to-production timelines — surfacing risk early and coordinating resolution across design, validation, and partners * Product qualification strategy for datacentre and automotive markets * NPI governance: phase gates, cross-functional reviews, executive reporting External partners * Strategic relationships with OSATs, ATE vendors, foundries, and test houses — selection, negotiation, production readiness * Test program transfer, ramp, and ongoing yield improvement with OSAT and foundry partners Bristol lab * Evolving the validation lab into a scalable, well-run operation; owning its budget, standards, and safety * Through the Lab Manager, overseeing silicon bring-up, characterization, and production test development * Ensuring validation capability (power, JTAG/scan, signal integrity, thermal) keeps pace with the roadmap Team * Building, leading, and mentoring a multidisciplinary team of test engineers, validation engineers, and lab technicians * Recruiting and retaining senior talent in a competitive market * Translating executive strategy into clear direction, and representing both functions to the exec team, board, and key customers What we are looking for: * A background spanning product, test, assembly, and qualification of complex SoCs — ideally including hands-on lab time and exposure to startup or high-growth environments * Deep command of ATE platforms and test program development, from early silicon to volume * Strong grasp of reliability physics and qualification methodology, including automotive and datacentre standards * Working knowledge of DFT, silicon debug/FA workflows, and test/manufacturing economics * A proven track record leading and scaling technical teams in fast-moving semiconductor environments * Senior-level OSAT/foundry/test-house management, including commercial negotiation * Director-level department ownership: budgets, headcount, resourcing * Strong executive communication — able to take complex technical topics to a board-level audience * Comfort building process and infrastructure from scratch, and making high-impact calls with incomplete information Nice to have: automotive (AEC-Q100) or datacentre qualification experience; prior time in AI hardware or a high-growth deep-tech startup. Success in the first 12 months * Next chip program brought up and qualified on schedule * Current products transitioned into qualified, cost-effective production * A clear, executive-aligned test and product engineering strategy across all active programs * A better-structured, better-equipped, better-controlled Bristol lab * Key OSAT and foundry partnerships strengthened and formalised Location * Our Bristol (UK) office in an on-site / hybrid capacity. What we offer  This is your chance to shape and be part of a dynamic, fast-growing, international organisation. We offer an attractive compensation package, including a pension plan, extensive employee insurances and the option to get company shares.    An open culture that supports creativity and continual innovation is awaiting you. Collaborative ownership and freedom with responsibility is characteristic for the way we act and work as a team.  At Axelera AI, we wholeheartedly embrace equal opportunity and hold diversity in the highest regard. Our steadfast commitment is to cultivate a warm and inclusive environment that empowers and celebrates every member of our team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to join us in shaping the future of AI.

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.  At Graphcore, the Supply Chain Planning Manager - NPI role offers an outstanding opportunity to be at the center of the AI revolution. You will join a team that plays a vital role in driving the next generation of AI breakthroughs. This is an outstanding chance to contribute to a company that is making a genuine impact in the world!  RESPONSIBILITIES * Develop and maintain demand forecasts and material plans for lab equipment, engineering components, prototype parts, and consumables. * Work closely with Engineering, R&D, and Operations teams to guarantee the smooth implementation of supply chain processes. * Partner with Procurement to ensure timely sourcing and delivery of critical materials and components. * Monitor material readiness, inventory levels, and supplier commitments to prevent disruptions in engineering projects and lab operations. * Analyse material shortages, excess inventory, and supply risks; implement mitigation plans to prevent schedule impacts. * Translate project roadmaps, build schedules, and engineering change activities into actionable material plans. * Perform scenario analysis to determine the impact of supplier lead times, material constraints, demand fluctuations, and schedule changes. * Support New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering builds, and prototype development by ensuring timely availability of materials and equipment. REQUIREMENTS * Over 5 years of experience in supply chain management, preferably within the high-tech industry. * Proven experience in supporting Engineering, R&D, laboratory operations, prototype builds, or NPI programs. * Solid understanding of supply chain planning, demand forecasting, and inventory management. * Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions. * Proficiency in Excel (including VBA), data modeling, automation, and ERP systems. * Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Superset. * Strong communication and reporting skills, with a proven ability to work collaboratively across teams. * Hardware product-related sourcing experience is strictly required. DIFFERENTIATORS * Joining a world-class team that leads advancements in AI innovations. * A collaborative and inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives. * Opportunities to work with ambitious projects and brand new technology. * A role that directly contributes to the success of groundbreaking AI developments. 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.