Manufacturing Operational Excellence Manager

About Graphcore

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’re seeking a Manufacturing Operational Excellence Manager to oversee the transition between New Product Introduction (NPI) and sustained production for our advanced artificial intelligence compute products. You will embed manufacturing excellence across our global manufacturing partners, applying Six Sigma, SPC, managing design & process changes, and ensuring tight configuration/BOM control. Working in a technically challenging, fast paced environment you will enable Graphcore to it scale its manufacturing capability to build and deliver the world’s most advanced AI systems on time, every time.

The Team

The Graphcore Quality Team delivers outstanding customer experience and champions sustainable excellence throughout Graphcore. We are responsible for customer, supply chain and product quality, as well as organisational compliance, governance and assurance. You will be joining a diverse team of experts in these domains based in our Bristol, Cambridge (UK) and Hsinchu (Taiwan) offices.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead, develop, and mentor a manufacturing operational excellence capability.
• Oversee manufacturing line set up and transfer: process replication, tooling transfer, and re-qualification.
• Own manufacturing readiness from prototype to ramp; work with manufacturing technology to establish control plans, PFMEAs, and process validations.
• Work closely with internal experts in Hardware Engineering, Product Engineering, Product Test, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Apply Six Sigma/SPC and data analytics to improve yield, throughput, and OEE.
• Maintain process change control (ECO/ECN), configuration control, and BOM management in PLM/ERP.
• Manage contract manufacturer (CM) readiness: qualifications, audits, line bring-up, and performance reviews.
• Track and improve KPIs (e.g. yield, DPPM, cycle time).
• Drive cost-down through yield improvement and process optimization.
• Ensure compliance to all requirements (Graphcore, customer, regulatory, etc.).
• International travel as required to ensure success in this role.

 

Candiate Profile

Essential:

• Degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or Materials Engineering
• 8+ years in semiconductor/advanced electronics manufacturing; 3+ years in leadership.
• Experience managing outsourced manufacturing
• Six Sigma/SPC expertise (Black Belt+ preferred).
• Strong data analysis and visualisation skills.
• Proven NPI-to-volume ramp experience.
• Record of manufacturing yield, cost, and quality improvements using data-driven methods.
• Experience with manufacturing line transfers/start-ups.
• Strong cross-functional management skills.

 

Desirable:

• Familiarity with MES and manufacturing automation.
• Strong change control, configuration management, and BOM governance in PLM/ERP.
• Exposure to PPAP, APQP, PFMEA/DFMEA.
• PMP, Lean, ASQ, CQI.

 

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.

 

Sponsorship

Applicants for this position must hold the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support for visa applications.