> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1273025-director-ai-infrastructure-systems](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1273025-director-ai-infrastructure-systems). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Director - AI Infrastructure Systems - **Company:** Axelera - **Location:** Eindhoven, Netherlands (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Computing Platforms, Systems Engineering, Intelligent Platform Management Interface, BIOS, Software Documentation, Computer Engineering, Data Centers, Software Debugging, Firmware, PCI Express, Software Product Management, AI Infrastructure, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Extensible Firmware Interface, Storage Technologies, Pcb Layout, U-Boot - **Published:** July 15, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.jobbird.com/nl/vacature/25382813-director-ai-infrastructure-systems ## About the Role * 15+ years in hardware engineering for complex electronics products, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles running multidisciplinary teams. * Proven track record of shipping datacenter- or server-class compute hardware into volume production: accelerator cards, OAM modules, UBB baseboards, GPU/xPU-class server platforms, compute nodes or rack-level systems. * Deep expertise in high-speed interfaces (PCIe Gen4/5/6, CXL, high-speed SerDes), server memory, high-current power delivery and VRM design, and high-density PCB layout with rigorous SI/PI methodology. * Experience with BMC-based platform management, Redfish/IPMI, UEFI/BIOS or equivalent firmware stacks, secure boot/root-of-trust, and enterprise RAS features. * Working knowledge of datacenter thermal and mechanical design: air-cooled 1U/2U chassis, direct liquid cooling and/or immersion-ready platforms, and rack power delivery at 12V, 48V and OCP power-shelf level. * Familiarity with datacenter and AI infrastructure compliance and with PCIe and OCP standards. * Experience working with tier-1 CMs/ODMs on server-class products, including DFM, MP transfer, yield ramp and sustaining engineering. * Hands-on ability to review schematics, layouts, simulation results and lab validation data and to make the call when the team is stuck. * Strong strategic thinker, excellent communicator, skilled at decision-making in fast-moving environments, comfortable engaging at C-level with customers and partners. Preference * Experience building or significantly scaling an engineering team is strongly preferred. * Experience with AI accelerator platforms, GPUs or custom silicon in a datacenter context is a strong plus. * Exposure to sovereign AI, EuroHPC, HPC or European defence/dual-use datacenter programmes is a plus. * Fluent English required; additional European language is a plus. ## Description We are looking for an entrepreneurial, technically exceptional engineering leader to establish and run Axelera's AI Infrastructure Systems division within the AI Integrated Systems (AIS) group. This is a new function, created to realize and deliver our next-generation accelerator silicon into datacenter-class form factors from PCIe accelerator cards and OAM-class modules to full 1U/2U rack systems and dense compute nodes targeting enterprise AI, sovereign cloud and HPC customers. You will build the team, shape the technical roadmap, and own end-to-end delivery of board- and system-level products for two strategic programmes. You will partner closely with the engineering leadership of the Embedded AI product line within AIS, System and Platform Architecture within R&D, the silicon organisation, the Voyager SDK/software group, and Axelera's go-to-market teams serving hyperscalers, sovereign AI initiatives and the European HPC ecosystem. This role is deeply hands-on, owning implementation, validation, and delivery of platform systems. You will review schematics and layouts, challenge power and thermal budgets, shape the BMC and platform-firmware stack, and walk the lab floor during bring-up. Strategic leadership without technical depth will not work here., * Build the Infrastructure Systems engineering team from the ground up: hire, structure and mentor a multidisciplinary organisation covering hardware architecture, PCB design, power/thermal/mechanical engineering, firmware and platform validation with in-house and 3rd-party resources * Define the technical roadmap for the division's board- and system-level server products-PCIe Gen6/CXL accelerator cards, OAM modules and UBB baseboards, and full 1U/2U rack systems, evolving toward rack-scale solutions including networking fabric and storage architecture-aligned with the next-generation system and silicon roadmap. * Serve as the technical authority across system implementation, including schematics, PCB stack-ups, high-speed signaling (PCIe Gen5/6, CXL, high-speed SerDes), enterprise memory, power delivery and VRM design, SI/PI methodology, and mechanical/thermal integration. * Own end-to-end execution from concept through design reviews, bring-up, validation, reliability qualification, DFM/DFT/DFR and mass-production readiness, including NPI and ramp with tier-1 CMs and ODMs. Make the build-vs-partner call on each program leading designs in-house where it differentiates, and co-designing with ODM partners where time-to-market or scale demands it. * Drive datacenter-grade platform engineering: BMC-based management, Redfish/IPMI, UEFI/BIOS firmware, secure boot and root-of-trust, platform firmware resilience, enterprise RAS features, and out-of-band telemetry. * Lead the thermal and mechanical strategy for high-power accelerator platforms, including air-cooled rack designs and, where appropriate, direct liquid cooling (DLC) and immersion-ready variants. * Partner with the Embedded AI engineering leadership within AIS to align board and system-level execution across the two product lines, sharing reference designs, validation assets and CM/ODM relationships wherever it accelerates both streams. * Collaborate with Platform Architecture, product management, silicon, SDK and software teams to refine and realise platform requirements (e.g. Memory topology, interconnect, power states, telemetry) so that the server products showcase the accelerator's capabilities at rack and cluster scale. * Engage directly with strategic customers, system integrators and ecosystem partners (hyperscalers, sovereign cloud operators, HPC centres, OEMs/ODMs) to shape requirements and win design-ins. * Define and enforce engineering processes, documentation standards, validation methodologies and quality gates for the new division, mapped to Axelera's NPD framework. * Identify and mitigate technical risks, resolve engineering escalations, and drive debugging and root-cause analysis during development, qualification and early production. * Own the division's engineering budget, CAPEX, external engineering spend and vendor relationships. ## Related Videos - [10M Data Records Lost, Underwater Computing, and Psychedelic Fish - Matthias Geniar](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1908-10m-data-records-lost-underwater-computing-and-psychedelic-fish-matthias-geniar) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [How to build a sovereign European AI compute infrastructure](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1102-how-to-build-a-sovereign-european-ai-compute-infrastructure) - [How to Submit CFPs and Get into Public Speaking - Moran Weber](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2112-how-to-submit-cfps-and-get-into-public-speaking-moran-weber) - [Shipping Faster with Less: Render on Cloud Hosting, AI Workloads, and the Future of DevOps](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1894-shipping-faster-with-less-render-on-cloud-hosting-ai-workloads-and-the-future-of-devops) - [Agent Smith Gets Hardware: Autonomous IoT Hacking From Debug Port to Cloud API](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100258-agent-smith-gets-hardware-autonomous-iot-hacking-from-debug-port-to-cloud-api) ## Related Articles - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Stephan Gillich - Bringing AI Everywhere](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/489-stephan-gillich-bringing-ai-everywhere) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs)