About the Job:
Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our flagship platform, Ubuntu, is widely utilized in pioneering enterprise initiatives, including public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. We serve prominent public cloud and silicon providers, alongside industry leaders across multiple sectors. With a team of over 1200 colleagues in 75+ countries, Canonical promotes global distributed collaboration, requiring only minimal office-based roles. Teams convene two to four times a year in various locations worldwide to align on strategy and execution.
This position is part of a general track for Senior+ Engineers (Senior/Staff/Principal roles) within any Canonical team. During the initial interviews, we will identify the teams that may be the best fit for your skills and preferences.
At Canonical, Senior+ Engineers are exceptional software architects and coders, demonstrating leadership qualities to inspire teams to deliver outstanding products. In this role, you will make substantial contributions to Canonical's portfolio through high-quality code, technical leadership, team motivation, and detailed documentation. You will drive the architecture and evolution of impactful open source software across various layers of the tech stack, from the core components of Ubuntu to advanced cloud automation and distributed systems.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and architecture of impactful open source projects.
- Code in Golang, Rust, Python, C/C++, or Typescript/React.
- Collaborate proactively with a globally distributed team.
- Mentor and develop colleagues in their career progression.
- Display technical leadership within Canonical and the open-source community.
- Debug issues and produce high-quality code.
- Contribute to technical documentation.
Requirements:
- Exceptional academic record from high school and university.
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or a related STEM field, or a compelling alternative path.
- Proven drive and ability to exceed expectations.
- Technical leadership experience with proficiency in one or more of Go, Rust, Python, or C.
- Excellent communication skills in professional written and spoken English.
- Strong interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability.
- Willingness to travel twice a year for company events (up to two weeks each).
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with container technologies (LXD, Docker, Kubernetes).
- Knowledge of highly concurrent distributed systems.
- Experience in performance engineering, software security, build systems, and packaging.
- Familiarity with public clouds and OpenStack, systems programming, and scalable web services.
What We Offer:
- A competitive compensation package, including annual reviews and performance-driven bonuses.
- A remote-first work environment with opportunities for team sprints in-person twice a year.
- A personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year.
- Additional benefits such as annual holiday leave, maternity and paternity leave, wellness programs, and travel benefits for company events.
About Canonical:
Canonical is a pioneering tech firm leading the global transition to open source, notably through Ubuntu, a key platform for AI, IoT, and cloud technologies. We maintain a high standard for talent and expect excellence in all we do. As a remote-first company since 2004, Canonical offers a future-focused working environment that encourages innovative thinking and skill development.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Canonical fosters a workplace free from discrimination, valuing diversity of experience, perspective, and background. All applications are given fair consideration.
