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Staff Manufacturing Test Engineer

Austin, Texas, United States

Manufacturing Test Engineer – Server Hardware

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.   

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. We are opening a new AI Engineering Campus in Austin, which will play a central role in Graphcore's work building the future of AI computing. 


Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Test Engineer to support high-volume server manufacturing from board-level test through system-level production test. This role will work closely with an ODM manufacturing partner to define, implement, validate, and optimize the manufacturing test strategy for L6 board-level products, including ICT, MDA, and Board Functional Test, as well as support L10 system-level manufacturing test.

The ideal candidate has strong experience in server hardware manufacturing, Linux-based test environments, diagnostic test coverage, fixture requirements, yield improvement, and root cause corrective action processes. This role requires both technical depth and hands-on manufacturing execution experience, with the ability to drive best practices across test development, factory readiness, quality planning, and ongoing production support.

 

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Test Strategy and Planning

  • Work with ODM partners to define and execute the manufacturing test strategy for L6 board-level production.
  • Develop and review test plans covering:
    • In-Circuit Test, or ICT
    • Manufacturing Defect Analyzer, or MDA
    • Board Functional Test
    • Diagnostic coverage requirements
    • Manufacturing line test flow
    • Failure detection and containment strategy
  • Ensure test plans provide appropriate coverage for board-level defects, assembly issues, component-level failures, and functional performance requirements.
  • Partner with hardware engineering, design validation, diagnostics, operations, quality, and ODM teams to align manufacturing test coverage with product risk areas.

L6 Board-Level Test Development and Deployment

  • Define requirements for board-level test stations, fixtures, test software, diagnostic content, and production test infrastructure.
  • Support the development, validation, and release of board functional tests into the ODM manufacturing environment.
  • Review ICT and MDA coverage reports and drive improvements to ensure adequate manufacturing defect detection.
  • Define pass/fail criteria, test limits, data collection requirements, retest rules, and failure handling processes.
  • Support bring-up, debug, and qualification of manufacturing test processes during NPI and production ramp.

L10 System-Level Manufacturing Test

  • Support development and deployment of L10 system-level manufacturing test processes.
  • Port board functional tests into the L10 manufacturing environment where appropriate.
  • Ensure L10 test coverage validates system-level integration, board functionality, firmware readiness, thermal behavior, power behavior, I/O functionality, and platform health.
  • Work with ODM and internal engineering teams to ensure test execution is scalable, repeatable, and suitable for high-volume server production.

Manufacturing Line and Fixture Requirements

  • Specify manufacturing line requirements for test station configuration, test sequencing, data capture, networking, tooling, and operator workflow.
  • Define requirements for test fixtures, cabling, adapters, load boards, debug interfaces, power delivery, signal access, and fixture maintenance.
  • Ensure fixtures and test stations meet manufacturing requirements for reliability, repeatability, safety, ease of use, throughput, and serviceability.
  • Drive fixture validation, correlation, preventive maintenance planning, and readiness for production ramp.

Quality Planning, Yield, and Continuous Improvement

  • Create and maintain an overall manufacturing quality plan focused on yield, defect containment, test coverage, and production readiness.
  • Monitor manufacturing test yield, first-pass yield, failure pareto trends, retest rates, false failures, and escape risks.
  • Lead technical investigations into manufacturing test failures, quality excursions, and yield loss.
  • Drive structured root cause analysis and corrective action with ODM partners and internal stakeholders.
  • Define and track corrective actions, containment plans, and long-term process improvements.
  • Establish best practices for test development, test deployment, fixture readiness, failure analysis, data review, and manufacturing quality control.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Serve as the primary technical interface between internal teams and ODM manufacturing test teams.
  • Collaborate with hardware engineering, diagnostics, firmware, software, quality, supply chain, and operations teams.
  • Support NPI builds, pilot builds, production ramp, and sustaining manufacturing activities.
  • Communicate test readiness, risks, yield issues, corrective actions, and manufacturing quality status to program stakeholders.
  • Travel to ODM manufacturing sites as needed to support build readiness, test deployment, debug, and ramp activities.

 

DIFFERENTIATORS

  • 8+ years of experience in manufacturing test engineering, hardware test engineering, or production test development.
  • Experience supporting high-volume server manufacturing or similar complex compute, networking, storage, or data center hardware products.
  • Strong understanding of board-level manufacturing test processes, including:
    • ICT
    • MDA
    • Board Functional Test
    • Diagnostic test execution
    • Manufacturing defect detection
  • Experience working directly with ODM, CM, or JDM manufacturing partners.
  • Hands-on experience with Linux-based test environments, including test execution, scripting, log collection, and failure triage.
  • Familiarity with server hardware architecture, including CPUs, memory, storage, networking, BMCs, firmware, power subsystems, and high-speed interfaces.
  • Experience defining test fixture requirements and supporting fixture bring-up, validation, and production readiness.
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing quality metrics, including first-pass yield, retest rate, defect paretos, failure analysis, and corrective action.
  • Demonstrated ability to drive root cause analysis and corrective action across engineering and manufacturing teams.
  • Ability to review test logs, identify failure signatures, isolate issues, and determine whether failures are related to hardware, firmware, software, test process, or fixture design.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate technical issues, risks, and action plans.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with L6 board-level and L10 system-level manufacturing processes.
  • Experience porting board-level functional tests into system-level manufacturing environments.
  • Familiarity with server diagnostics, BMC interfaces, BIOS/UEFI, firmware update flows, hardware health checks, and system stress testing.
  • Experience with Python, Bash, or other scripting languages used in manufacturing test automation.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing data systems, test result databases, yield dashboards, and factory analytics.
  • Experience with high-volume NPI, EVT/DVT/PVT, pilot builds, and production ramp.
  • Familiarity with test coverage analysis, DFT/DFM principles, and manufacturing escape prevention.
  • Experience working with global manufacturing teams and offshore ODM sites.

 

Key Success Measures

  • Complete and production-ready L6 test plan covering ICT, MDA, and Board Functional Test.
  • Successful deployment of board functional test into L6 and L10 manufacturing environments.
  • Clearly defined manufacturing line, station, and fixture requirements.
  • Strong diagnostic coverage aligned to product risk and manufacturing defect modes.
  • Stable test processes with low false-failure rates and scalable execution time.
  • Improved first-pass yield and reduced manufacturing defect escapes.
  • Timely root cause identification and corrective action closure for yield and quality issues.
  • Adoption of manufacturing test and quality best practices across ODM production lines.

 

We welcome people of different backgrounds and experiences and are committed to building an inclusive work environment that makes Graphcore a great home for everyone. We are an equal opportunity employer and want to build a work environment where everyone is happy, productive and respectful so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, just let us know.

USA 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.

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