Graphcore is hiring again after its SoftBank acquisition — but what do the roles tell us about its future focus?

• Recruitment drive would increase Graphcore’s headcount by 20%
• Announcement marks first big moves since SoftBank acquisition
• Roles available in silicon design, software, and infrastructure

Graphcore has announced plans for a fresh hiring drive just months after its landmark acquisition by SoftBank.

The British AI chip manufacturer announced it has 75 open positions spanning a range of business functions, including silicon design, data center infrastructure management, hardware engineering, and AI research.

“Whether your expertise is in silicon, systems, software, AI research or any of the other functions that we are expanding, this is a chance to work at the leading-edge of your field,” said CEO Nigel Toon.

Graphcore hiring spree

The recruitment campaign represents a 20% increase in Graphcore’s overall workforce, and will include positions at all of its global offices.

The company currently has sites in Bristol, Cambridge, and London in the UK, along with offices in Gdansk, Poland, and Hsinchu City, Taiwan.

Graphcore was acquired by SoftBank in July 2024 in a deal described by Toon as a “tremendous endorsement” for the company. As part of the deal, the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Japanese investment bank.

While financial terms of the acquisition were undisclosed, it’s believed the deal was valued at around $600 million, representing a significant markdown on its 2020 valuation of around $2.5 billion.

Toon described the deal as a “tremendous endorsement” for the company and said the acquisition is a “great outcome”.

What does the move say about Graphcore future plans?

In its announcement, Graphcore said the move builds on a pledge to “continue to invest in the creation of high-skilled jobs spanning a range of disciplines” in the wake of its acquisition.

The open positions do point toward its potential future plans, however, particularly with regard to chip design. Of the 75 roles Graphcore is recruiting for, 10 of these alone are in Silicon engineering design, suggesting the company plans to ramp up development of its next…