Type · Logistics
Describe your experience with C++ and Python, and how you've used them in previous roles, particularly in performance-critical applications.
How to Pass the Graphcore Software Engineer Interview in 2026
Growth · Software Engineer Interview Guide
Sign up to see ATSHeadquartered in United KingdomInterview language: English
The Graphcore DNA (TL;DR)
The technical deep-dive rounds at Graphcore heavily assess a candidate's depth in their domain, specifically around novel approaches to AI compute. Interviewers, often senior engineers, probe for original thinking and how one would contribute to the evolution of IPU technology, reflecting the vision of Nigel Toon and Simon Knowles.
The Graphcore Interview Loop
Your onsite loop will typically consist of 5 rounds.
- 1
Round 1
Recruiter ScreenMotivation, role fit, logistics. - 2
Round 2
Coding ScreenLeetCode-medium algorithmic problems under time pressure. - 3
Round 3
System DesignDistributed systems, trade-offs at scale, architecture under constraints. - 4
Round 4
Onsite CodingLeetCode-hard problems, reasoning about defects, code clarity, edge cases. - 5
Round 5
Behavioral / LeadershipPast evidence of ownership, influence, resolving conflict.
The Danger Zone: Top Reasons Candidates Fail
Based on our database of Graphcore interview outcomes, avoid these common traps:
- Failing to demonstrate an understanding of the long-term impact on IPU software stack maintainability
- Giving a generic answer about wanting to work in AI.
- Waiting to be told what to do rather than taking initiative.
- Claiming to learn things instantly without describing a process.
Test Yourself: Real Graphcore Questions
Three real prompts pulled from our database.
Type · Algorithmic
You are given a stream of data representing memory access requests to different tiles on an IPU. Design an algorithm to predict the next likely memory access based on recent access patterns, optimizing for cache hit rate.
Type · Learning
STARGraphcore operates at the cutting edge of AI hardware. Tell me about a time you had to quickly learn a new, complex technology or domain to be successful in your role. How did you approach the learning process?
+ many more questions, signals, and worked examples
Sign up to unlock the full Graphcore grading rubric
Graphcore Interview Question Bank
A sample from our database, grouped by round. Sign up to see the full set.
10 of 13 questions shown
1
Recruiter Screen
2- 1
Type · Motivation
What specifically interests you about Graphcore's approach to AI hardware and the challenges of developing IPUs? - 2
Type · Logistics
Describe your experience with C++ and Python, and how you've used them in previous roles, particularly in performance-critical applications.
2
Coding Screen
3- 3
Type · Algorithmic
Given a large dataset of processor performance counters for IPU operations, write a function to efficiently find the top K most frequent counter patterns. Assume the dataset is too large to fit into memory. - 4
Type · Algorithmic
You are given a stream of data representing memory access requests to different tiles on an IPU. Design an algorithm to predict the next likely memory access based on recent access patterns, optimizing for cache hit rate. - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
3
System Design
3- 5
Type · Distributed Systems
Design a distributed system for managing and scheduling large-scale AI model training jobs across a cluster of Graphcore IPUs. Consider fault tolerance, load balancing, and efficient resource utilization. - 6
Type · Architecture
How would you design a system to collect and analyze telemetry data from thousands of IPUs in real-time to detect performance anomalies or potential hardware issues? Discuss the trade-offs between data granularity, storage, and processing latency. - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
4
Onsite Coding
2- 7
Type · Debugging
Root Cause Analysis (Issue Tree + 5 Whys)A customer reports intermittent incorrect results from a deep learning model running on our IPUs. The issue only appears under specific input data conditions and at high utilization. How would you approach debugging this problem? - 8
Type · Edge Cases
Write a function to perform matrix multiplication on the IPU, considering potential numerical precision issues and edge cases like matrices with zero dimensions or non-standard data types.
5
Behavioral / Leadership
3- 9
Type · Conflict Resolution
STARWe often face a trade-off between compiler-driven optimization and manual kernel tuning by the user. Describe a situation where you advocated for a specific architectural constraint or performance trade-off that conflicted with the immediate needs of a product team or customer. How did you balance the long-term hardware roadmap against the pressure for short-term performance gains? - 10
Type · Ownership
STARDescribe a complex technical problem you encountered in a previous project that wasn't explicitly assigned to you. What steps did you take to understand and resolve it, and what was the impact? - + 1 more questions in this round (sign up to unlock)
Unlock all 13 Graphcore questions, free
No credit card. Every question with its framework, the grading signals interviewers score against, and a worked answer for each.
Interview tracks at Graphcore
How Graphcore's DNA translates across functions. Pick your role.
Compare Graphcore with similar employers
Same DNA, different bar. Browse the closest companies in our database and see how their loops differ.
Callosum
Same tierAs an Intelligent Systems Company, Callosum anchors evaluation on hardware-software co-design principles, testing how...
See Callosum interview questions
Quandela
Same tierThe technical deep-dive rounds at Quandela frequently assess a candidate's ability to connect theoretical quantum con...
See Quandela interview questions
Groq
Same tierArchitectural execution on the LPU Inference Engine requires engineers to reason about deterministic latency, memory ...
See Groq interview questions
Practice Graphcore interviews end-to-end
Graphcore Mock Interview
Run a live mock interview with our AI interviewer using Graphcore-style prompts. Get scored on structure, signal, and answer length - exactly how the real loop grades you.
Open
STAR Stories for Graphcore Behavioral Rounds
Build a Story Bank of your past wins, mapped to the leadership signals Graphcore interviewers grade on. Reuse them across every behavioral round.
Open
Graphcore Interview Prep Hub
The frameworks behind every Graphcore round: CIRCLES for product sense, hypothesis-driven debugging for analytical, STAR for behavioral. Learn each one in 10 minutes.
Open
Interview Frameworks
CIRCLES, STAR, AARRR, RICE, MECE. The exact frameworks that make Graphcore interviewers nod instead of frown. Step-by-step playbooks with the moves and the pitfalls.
Open
Sample answers
What a strong answer to these Graphcore interview questions shows.
Describe your experience with C++ and Python, and how you've used them in previous roles, particularly in performance-critical applications.
A strong answer shows: Proficiency in key languages for systems development.; Experience with performance-sensitive code..
You are given a stream of data representing memory access requests to different tiles on an IPU. Design an algorithm to predict the next likely memory access based on recent access patterns, optimizing for cache hit rate.
A strong answer shows: Understanding of memory access patterns and caching.; Ability to design predictive algorithms for streaming data..
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Graphcore interview process take?
Most candidates spend between 4 and 8 weeks from recruiter screen to offer. The onsite loop itself runs in a single day or is split across two half-days, with debrief and offer typically within 5 business days after.
How should I prepare specifically for Graphcore?
Focus on three things: (1) the company DNA shown above - what they actually grade for, (2) the rounds in your loop, especially the round most candidates underestimate, and (3) drilling on the question types in this guide using a structured framework like CIRCLES or STAR.
Does this apply to engineering or design roles at Graphcore?
The DNA stays the same - what changes is the round mix. SWE candidates face coding screens instead of Product Sense; designers face portfolio reviews and design exercises. The "what they value" and behavioral signals carry across all functions.
Explore careers on Workfive →