Principal Mechanical Engineer

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 an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical design and development for complex AI data center hardware platforms. 

This role will define the overall mechanical architecture, ensure mechanical integrity of the product, and guide design, qualification, and validation activities across the product lifecycle while collaborating with cross‑functional engineering teams and ODM partners. 

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 Mechanical Engineering team designs the physical infrastructure supporting Graphcore’s AI compute platforms, including mechanical packaging, structural components, cooling integration, and electro‑mechanical assemblies across server and rack‑level systems. 

The team works closely with electrical engineering, thermal engineering, manufacturing, and system architecture teams to deliver robust and manufacturable hardware platforms. 

Responsibilities and Duties 

• Lead mechanical architecture and design for AI data center hardware platforms. 

• Develop mechanical specifications, design reviews, qualification plans, and validation processes. 

• Design, develop, test, and evaluate mechanical components and assemblies for complex hardware systems. 

• Work with ODM partners to manage mechanical specifications, development schedules, and technical deliverables. 

• Provide direction to ODM vendors on design implementation, validation, and testing. 

• Collaborate with thermal engineers to design high‑density cooling solutions including liquid cooling systems. 

• Drive electro‑mechanical integration including PCB mechanical constraints, cable routing, and packaging. 

• Work with suppliers and vendors to ensure manufacturability, quality, and cost targets are achieved. 

• Perform DFM and DFA analysis and support tolerance analysis and root‑cause investigations. 

Candidate Profile 

Essential 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline. 

• 10+ years of experience in mechanical design for complex hardware systems. 

• Strong proficiency with CAD tools such as PTC Creo. 

• Experience designing sheet metal, cast, and plastic injection molded components. 

• Experience collaborating with thermal engineers on high‑density cooling solutions. 

• Experience supporting electro‑mechanical packaging for server or data center hardware. 

• Strong experience with DFM, DFA, tolerance analysis, and mechanical problem solving. 

• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills. 

Desirable 

• Experience designing rack‑level AI or data center hardware systems. 

• Experience working with ODM partners in joint development programs. 

• Familiarity with high‑power density server hardware design. 

• Experience integrating liquid cooling systems into server platforms.