Principal OpenBMC Firmware Developer

About us 

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 

We are seeking a Principal OpenBMC Firmware Developer to lead the architecture and development of OpenBMC-based platform management firmware for Graphcore’s server and rack-scale AI infrastructure. 

This role focuses on building scalable management firmware for hyperscale data center platforms. The successful candidate will drive BMC firmware architecture, collaborate with ODM partners, and ensure high-quality firmware solutions enabling telemetry, remote management, and platform serviceability. 

The Team 

Graphcore is a globally recognised leader in Artificial Intelligence computing systems. The company designs advanced semiconductors and data centre hardware that provide the specialised processing power needed to drive AI innovation, while delivering the efficiency required to support its broader adoption. 

The Firmware Engineering team develops the platform management firmware that enables monitoring, control, and serviceability of Graphcore’s AI compute platforms. 

The team works closely with hardware engineering, system architecture, validation, and platform software teams to build reliable management infrastructure across server nodes and rack-scale systems. 

Responsibilities and Duties 

• Lead the architecture, design, development, and deployment of OpenBMC-based firmware for hyperscale server and rack management platforms. 

• Define and drive BMC feature development to support reliability, scalability, and serviceability requirements. 

• Collaborate closely with ODM partners through all phases of the design and development lifecycle. 

• Design and implement firmware interfaces for platform telemetry, power and thermal controls, and remote manageability. 

• Integrate BMC firmware development into CI/CD pipelines including automated builds and regression testing. 

• Partner with hardware, BIOS, security, systems, and validation teams to align firmware functionality with platform architecture. 

• Lead debugging and root-cause analysis for complex firmware and hardware issues in lab and production environments. 

• Contribute to the OpenBMC community and promote adoption of industry standards for platform management. 

Candidate Profile 

Essential 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline. 

• 7+ years of hands-on experience in BMC firmware development including senior engineering responsibilities. 

• Strong expertise with OpenBMC and Yocto-based Linux systems. 

• Strong programming skills in C/C++ and scripting languages such as Python or Bash. 

• Deep knowledge of platform management protocols such as IPMI, DCMI, Redfish, and PMCI. 

• Strong understanding of server and rack-level hardware architecture including sensors, FRUs, and power systems. 

• Experience working with BMC hardware interfaces including NC-SI, MCTP, PLDM, PCIe, I3C/I2C, SPI, USB, SGPIO, and UART. 

• Experience building CI/CD pipelines for firmware development and validation. 

Desirable 

• Prior contributions to the OpenBMC open-source community. 

• Experience with firmware security technologies such as secure boot or TPM integration. 

• Familiarity with server platform architectures (x86 or ARM). 

• Experience with DevOps practices or cloud infrastructure workflows. 

Benefits:

In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers a competitive benefits package. 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.