Principal Configuration Manager

About Us

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.

Job Summary  

As Principal Configuration Manager, you will establish, own, and continuously improve configuration management processes for our complex and highly innovative AI/HPC server products. You will be working closely with the hardware operations, hardware design and quality management teams and with our contract manufacturing partners to oversee version control, change management, configuration audits and the integrity of configuration data within the organization. This role will be critical in ensuring we manufacture product correctly to specification and to schedule. 

The Team
This Bristol based role sits is in the Manufacturing Technology team (MTP),  part of the Manufacturing Operations department. With presence in Bristol, Cambridge and Taiwan, the MTP team is responsible for developing and maintaining robust manufacturing processes at the wafer foundry, package assembly and PCBA subcontractors based in Taiwan. 

Responsibilities and Duties 

• Develop, implement, and maintain configuration management processes for hardware, including schematics, PCB layouts, BOMs and firmware interfaces. 

• Maintain configuration baselines for prototypes, engineering builds, and production releases and ensure accurate documentation of product or system configurations. 

• Own and administer the Engineering Change Order/Request processes. 

• Support the Change Review Board, ensuring timely, well-documented decisions. 

• Assess configuration impacts of proposed changes across hardware, firmware, manufacturing, and supply chain. 

• Manage and optimise PLM, PDM, and manufacturing control systems. 

• Ensure version control and traceability across design, BOM, and related documentation. 

• Support audits related to configuration management and ensure configuration practices align with quality standards and regulatory, customer, and manufacturing requirements. 

• Train and guide engineering teams and contract manufacturers on configuration and change management best practices. 

Candidate Profile 

 Essential: 

• Extensive experience of configuration management in electronics or hardware product development 

• Strong understanding of electronics hardware development and manufacturing 

• Hands-on experience with ECO/ECR processes and change review boards 

• Extensive experience with PLM/PDM systems and CM tools such as Git, Arena etc 

• Ability to manage complex, multi-variant hardware configurations 

• Excellent communication skills and ability to lead across cross-functional teams 

• Familiarity with supply-chain impacts of configuration changes 

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related subject 

 Desirable: 

• Experience in high-performance computing, AI accelerators, or similar products 

• Experience supporting contract manufacturers and global production environments 

• Experience building and leading teams to support configuration and component management 

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.