Linux 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 very 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.
Canonical's Partner Engineering Team is looking for open‑source enthusiasts to work across the full Linux stack to ensure new silicon technologies, such as new hardware accelerators, AI stacks, confidential computing, networking, virtualization, and containerization stacks, are optimized for new silicons.
Partner Engineering works closely with worldwide silicon companies to optimize Ubuntu for their new silicon, from x86, ARM, RISC‑V, PowerPC and s390x architectures.
Location: This is a Globally remote role
The role entails

Collaborating proactively within a distributed team
Fostering a software ecosystem with seamless user experience for all Ubuntu users
Evaluating contributions of other engineers to maintain high‑quality software standards.
Playing a role in shaping the future of Ubuntu via both – new ideas in your areas of interest and advising on work being done elsewhere
Collaborating with other teams in the Ubuntu and Debian communities, with upstream projects, and commercially supported customers
Debugging issues on open source code and team maintained code.
Helping our customers to integrate their apps, SDKs, build OS images, optimize applications with Ubuntu Core, Desktop and Server
Working with a team to maintain Ubuntu, silicon features, and silicon‑optimized 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 optimized toolchains
Package management and dependencies
Platform security (secure boot, FDE, Ubuntu Core, Confidential Computing)

Work from home with global travel 2 to 4 weeks for internal events

What we are looking for in you

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
You love technology and working with brilliant people
You are curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
You value soft skills and are passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self‑motivated
You 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 That You Might Also Bring

Experience with one or more of the following:

Graphics, audio, or multimedia stacks
Virtualization and containers (Docker, OCI, Kubernetes)
Hardware enablement for platforms and devices, including SmartNICs, NVMe storage, GPUs, audio components, and sensors
Performance optimization
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


What we offer colleagues

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 Program & 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 is 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 basis 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
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