Director - Hardware Engineering, AI Infrastructure Systems

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 We are seeking a Director of Silicon Logical Design to lead and scale our digital design organization. In this role, you will be responsible for the architectural realization, RTL implementation, and integration of complex AI accelerator SoCs from specification through tape-out. You will combine deep technical expertise with strong people leadership to drive execution, quality, and innovation across multiple silicon programs. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of architecture, implementation, and team building in a fast-paced startup environment. Key responsibilities: * Lead and grow the silicon logical (digital) design team, including RTL, integration, and design methodology * Drive the translation of system and micro-architecture specifications into high-quality RTL implementations * Own the end-to-end logical design execution for one or more SoCs, from concept through tape-out * Partner closely with architecture, verification, physical design, DFT, software, and product teams to ensure robust and scalable designs * Define and enforce best practices for RTL quality, coding standards, reuse, and design reviews * Oversee block-level and top-level integration, ensuring performance, power, area, and schedule targets are met * Support bring-up, debug, and silicon validation activities, including root-cause analysis of silicon issues * Contribute to long-term technology and roadmap planning, including IP strategy and future architecture directions * Mentor and develop engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and collaboration Qualifications: * Extensive experience in digital / logical design for complex SoCs, with multiple successful tape-outs * Proven ability to lead and grow high-performing silicon design teams * Strong expertise in RTL and micro-architecture development (SystemVerilog / Verilog) * Experience with large-scale SoC integration, including CPUs, accelerators, memory subsystems, and interconnects * Solid understanding of performance, power, and area trade-offs in advanced process nodes * Experience working closely with verification and physical design teams to achieve functional and timing closure * Strong communication skills and the ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on technical levels + Preferred: * Experience with AI/ML accelerators, GPUs, NPUs, or high-performance compute architectures * Familiarity with industry-standard interconnects (e.g., AXI, NoC architectures) * Knowledge of low-power design techniques and multi-clock / multi-voltage systems * Experience with silicon bring-up, post-silicon debug, and root-cause analysis * Experience working in a startup or fast-scaling environment Location We offer a flexible working arrangement, with options to: * Work from one of our Axelera AI offices (Leuven in Belgium, Amsterdam and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Zurich in Switzerland, Florence and Milan in Italy or Bristol in the United Kingdom) if you're already based in the vicinity. * Work fully remotely from any European country (incl. the UK) you are already in. * Relocate with us and work from Italy (Florence or Milan) or the Netherlands (Amsterdam or Eindhoven). What we offer  This is your chance to shape and be part of a dynamic, fast-growing, international organization. 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.

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 Reporting to the Director of Automation, the Staff Robotics Engineer will provide technical leadership for the design, integration, validation, and deployment of robotic automation systems for data center operations. This role will work closely with internal Graphcore teams, SoftBank Robotics, SoftBank Group affiliates, and external technology partners to turn R&D concepts into scalable, production-ready robotic capabilities. Example systems may include robotic manipulation, material transport, inspection, rack/server handling, autonomous mobile robots, or other automation solutions for data center operations. This role is based in Austin and may require periodic travel to partner, manufacturing, lab, or deployment sites, including occasional collaboration across APAC time zones.   THE TEAM The automation team is responsible for helping the vision of Softbank Group to automate data center, working with internal Graphcore teams and Softbank Group affiliates. The team works closely with Softbank Robotics and its partners and other third parties to solve complex solutions for data center operations.  Our focus is on delivering robust, production-quality systems that bridge cutting-edge research and real-world deployment.   RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES * This role is expected to operate with high autonomy, define technical direction for ambiguous robotics automation problems, influence partner roadmaps, and establish engineering standards for scalable deployment. * Align robotics, data center, internal engineering, SoftBank Group, and third-party partner teams to provide scalable autonomy capabilities. * Guide and mentor Softbank Group engineers and third-party partners without direct people management responsibilities, elevating technical judgment and Mechatronics best practices. * Contribute to technical planning, estimation and delivery of key project milestones. * Experience establishing or executing verification and validation processes, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, FAT/SAT, site validation, or field deployment. * Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis across software, controls, mechanical, and electrical systems. * Iterate on end effectors, hardware interfaces, and robotic subsystems with partners. * Help build scalable software infrastructure, device management systems, and fleet coordination protocols by collaborating with Softbank Group affiliates and third-party partners. * Lead the transition of R&D feasibility studies into production-ready integrated systems. * Evaluate emerging technologies, tools and methodologies to improve robotics capabilities and engineering productivity. * Produce clear technical documentation and communicate engineering decisions effectively to a range of stakeholders. CANDIDATE PROFILE ESSENTIAL * 8+ years of experience in automation or equipment engineering, with a focus on mechatronic subsystems and modular machine design. * Experience taking robotic or automated systems from prototype/R&D into production or field deployment. * Experience with material handling systems, automated equipment, or productionized robotic solutions. * Familiarity with 3D localization or VLM-based object detection (e.g., perception/ segmentation). * Experience conducting FAT/SAT validation and managing technical deliverables with partners and manufacturers. * Proven ability to debug the "full-stack": PLC logic, high-level code (C# or Python), and complex mechanical/electrical hardware. * Experience with robotics frameworks and middleware such as ROS/ROS 2 and IsaacSIM for modeling robotic interactions and path planning. * Strong understanding of robotics fundamentals including perception, localization, mapping, planning or control. * Ability to lead technical initiatives and influence engineering direction through expertise and collaboration. * Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills. * Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams. * Degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Mathematics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. DESIRABLE * Experience applying machine learning or AI techniques within robotics systems. * Experience with simulation environments and digital twin technologies. * Knowledge of computer vision, sensor fusion or reinforcement learning techniques. * Experience deploying robotics applications to cloud, edge or embedded environments. * Familiarity with GPU acceleration, high-performance computing or AI infrastructure. * Experience contributing to open-source robotics projects or technical communities. * Experience working in research-intensive or advanced technology environments.   BENEFITS In addition to a competitive salary, Graphcore offers flexible working and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing and financial future. Our benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), disability and life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, commuter benefits, wellness services and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). 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.