Ubuntu Software Engineer

Ubuntu Software Engineer

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. With 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and a remote‑first model, Canonical pioneers global distributed collaboration and a culture of technical excellence.

We are hiring engineers to work across the breadth of our Ubuntu Engineering organisation – designing, building, packaging, integrating, testing and shipping the most widely used open source operating system in the world.

Core Teams

• Foundations : Maintaining foundational software such as architectures, package managers, compilers, toolchains, bootloaders, filesystems and core utilities
• Server : Leading the design, evolution and future of our Ubuntu Server distribution
• Desktop : Driving Ubuntu Desktop, including Ubuntu Core Desktop, WSL, gaming technology, and a suite of modern applications crafted with Flutter
• Debcrafters : Responsible for the forward movement, maintenance and overall health of the Ubuntu archive, one of the most abundant repositories of open source software available today

Work Categories

• Development : Design, build and ship new foundational systems software and applications in Rust, Go, Flutter and Python
• Architecture : Engineer the integration of open source from boot firmware to cloud application deployment
• Packaging : Combine Debian and Snap packaging to ship software in the distribution
• Automation : Build and maintain the machinery responsible for building, testing and shipping Ubuntu
• Distro Engineering : Maintenance and evolution of a Linux distribution and its repositories

This track is suitable for mid‑career engineers who are not yet in a Manager/Lead role but possess the expertise to contribute to Ubuntu.

Remote roles are open in every time zone. The selected candidate will progress through a first review round to identify a specific team fit, followed by a second‑round interview with the targeted team.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and ship software in Rust, Go and Python
• Package, integrate, test and upload open source software to the Ubuntu repositories
• Debug system‑level issues and deliver robust solutions
• Author and improve technical and community documentation
• Contribute to upstream and neighboring open source projects
• Collaborate as part of a globally distributed team
• Mentor colleagues to build skills and understanding
• Develop and improve processes to more efficiently fulfill our goals

Qualifications

• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university
• Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path
• Drive and a track record of going above and beyond expectations
• Demonstrated passion for open source software
• Significant experience with Rust, Go, Python, Flutter or C/C++
• Professional written and spoken English
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks each

Nice‑to‑have skills

• Experience with Linux distributions and distribution engineering
• Experience with software packaging and distribution mechanisms
• Understanding of build systems and toolchains, including cross‑compilation
• Performance or security engineering experience

What We Offer

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

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm 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 a platform for AI, IoT and the cloud – we are changing the world daily. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. Canonical has been a remote‑first company since 2004.

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.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

Software Development

Job ID

Software Engineer ID43921 ($2,500 signing bonus)