Graphcore’s new AI Engineering Campus in Bengaluru marks a significant investment in the future of AI computing and in the engineers who will build it. As a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group, Graphcore is scaling its end-to-end system capabilities to help shape the next generation of compute for artificial intelligence.
We spoke to one of our first cohort of engineers in Bengaluru, Ram, about making a deliberate move into a role defined by ownership, challenge, and rapid learning.
Choosing to build, not just join
What first caught my attention about Graphcore was the opportunity to be part of something being built from the ground up. When I learned that Graphcore was setting up a new lab in Bangalore, India, it immediately stood out to me. Opportunities like this are rare – you don’t just join a team; you help shape it. Building a lab from scratch involves a huge amount of effort and ownership, but it also comes with an incredible learning curve. That combination of challenge and hands-on experience made the decision easy for me, and I was excited to be part of that journey from beginning.
Building from scratch, learning at speed
When I joined, the Bengaluru site was still in its early stages, which meant everything – from lab setup to workflows and test methodologies – was still evolving. On a personal level, the idea of setting up a lab from scratch was especially exciting, not just from an infrastructure standpoint but also in defining workflows, shaping test strategies, taking ownership of key technical areas, and helping establish best practices for bring-up and validation. That kind of environment naturally comes with ambiguity and challenges, but I’ve always found those to be the best opportunities to learn and grow. It pushed me to step outside my comfort zone – whether it was getting hands-on in the lab, solving unexpected issues, or collaborating closely with teams across different sites and time zones. There’s a strong sense of ownership in building something new, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it take shape over time while contributing both technically and beyond my core role.
Ramping up in a high-ownership environment
What’s helped me get up to speed quickly is a combination of prior experience, mindset, and the support system around me. Having a strong foundation in my core domain and relevant industry experience gave me a good starting point, but a lot of it also came down to putting in consistent hard work and being patient while learning new systems and challenges. At the same time, the support from my manager and colleagues made a big difference – they’ve been approachable, collaborative, and always willing to share knowledge, which really accelerates learning in a new environment. On a personal level, having strong support from my family has also helped me stay focused and motivated, especially during demanding phases. Altogether, it’s been a mix of technical background, persistence, and the right support network that’s enabled me to ramp up quickly.
A culture where everyone contributes
The culture in the Bengaluru office has been very welcoming and supportive right from the start. The team is collaborative and there’s a strong sense of ownership – people are encouraged to take initiative and contribute their ideas. What stood out to me early on was how approachable and helpful everyone is, not just within the engineering teams but also across HR, IT, facilities, and security – everyone plays a part in making the environment smooth and comfortable. From the very first day, it genuinely felt like we had all known each other for a long time, which made settling in much easier.
Shaping the foundations for what comes next
As the team grows, I hope to make a strong and lasting impact both technically and culturally. On the technical front, I aim to help build a robust, scalable, and high-quality lab infrastructure, along with well-defined validation workflows and efficient test methodologies that can support multiple generations of silicon. I’m particularly motivated to drive best practices in post-silicon bring-up and characterisation, solve complex system-level challenges, and contribute to improving overall quality, reliability, and efficiency.
Equally important to me is the cultural impact – fostering a highly collaborative, open, and ownership-driven environment where ideas are encouraged and knowledge is actively shared. Being part of the early phase, I see a unique opportunity to help shape the foundation of the team, mentor and guide new members, and contribute to building a strong, motivated, and high-performing organisation. Ultimately, I want to play a role in establishing the Bengaluru team as a key contributor to Graphcore’s global success.
Why now is the time to join
If someone is considering joining Graphcore in Bengaluru, I’d say it’s a great opportunity to be part of something truly impactful from an early stage. You’re not just stepping into an established setup – you’re helping build it, which comes with a lot of ownership, responsibility, and learning. If you enjoy solving challenging problems, working hands-on, and being in an environment where your ideas and contributions genuinely matter, you’ll find it very rewarding.
At the same time, the culture here is very supportive and collaborative. People are approachable, teams work closely across sites, and there’s a strong emphasis on learning and growth. You’ll get exposure not just to deep technical work but also to how things are built and scaled as a team, if you’re curious, proactive, and willing to put in the effort, it’s an excellent place to grow both professionally and personally.
We’re continuing to grow our engineering teams in Bengaluru. If you’re excited by the opportunity to build from the ground up, take ownership early, and work on AI systems you can see, test and ship, explore our current opportunities.
