Linux Software Engineer - Ubuntu for Next-Gen Silicon (multiple roles and seniority levels)

Linux Software Engineer – Ubuntu for Next-Gen Silicon (multiple roles and seniority levels)

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. Our customers include the world\’s leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office-based roles. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person in interesting locations around the world to align on strategy and execution. The company is founder‑led, profitable, and growing.

Location

This is a globally remote role.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate proactively within a distributed team
• Foster a software ecosystem with a seamless user experience for all Ubuntu users
• Evaluate contributions of other engineers to maintain high‑quality software standards
• Play a role in shaping the future of Ubuntu through new ideas and advising on work being done elsewhere
• Collaborate with other teams in the Ubuntu and Debian communities, upstream projects, and commercially supported customers
• Debug issues on open source code and team‑maintained code
• Help customers integrate their apps, SDKs, build OS images, and optimize applications with Ubuntu Core, Desktop and Server
• Work with a team to maintain Ubuntu, silicon features, and silicon‑optimised packages across platforms and technologies such as:

• Servers, HPC and AI systems, IoT devices, PCs, SmartNICs and automotive systems
• AI stacks
• Graphics, audio and multimedia stacks
• Virtualisation and containers
• Hardware enablement stacks
• New architectures, architecture variants and optimised toolchains
• Package management and dependencies
• Platform security (secure boot, FDE, Ubuntu Core, Confidential Computing)

Qualifications

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path
• Love technology and working with brilliant people
• Be curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
• Value soft skills and be passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self‑motivated
• Value building partnerships with a diverse set of internal and external groups
• Strong fundamentals in C, C++ and Python
• Experience or interest in learning Linux distribution packaging
• Experience or interest in open source maintenance or contribution and licenses
• Fundamental understanding of package management and dependency resolution

Additional Skills

• Experience with one or more of the following:

• Graphics, audio, or multimedia stacks
• Virtualisation and containers (Docker, OCI, Kubernetes)
• Hardware enablement for platforms and devices, including SmartNICs, NVMe storage, GPUs, audio components, and sensors
• Performance optimisation
• Toolchain development and maintenance
• Networking protocols and technologies (TCP/IP, DHCP, HTTP/REST)
• Security best practices
• IoT and embedded systems, including board‑level hardware, SoCs, BMCs, bootloaders, firmware, operating systems, applications, and services

Benefits

• Distributed work environment with twice‑yearly team sprints in person
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
• Annual compensation review
• Recognition rewards
• Annual holiday leave
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Team Member Assistance Programme & Wellness Platform
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long‑haul company events

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm that sits at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open source projects and the platform for AI, IoT and the cloud, we are changing the world on a daily basis. We recruit on a global base and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence – in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Canonical has been a remote‑first company since its inception in 2004. Working here is a step into the future, and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.

Canonical is an equal‑opportunity employer. We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.