Ubuntu Engineering Delivery and Excellence Manager

Canonical; London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading open source technology provider in London is seeking a Quality Engineering Manager to elevate the standards of their Linux distribution. The ideal candidate will possess a strong software engineering background with expertise in Linux, C/C++, and Python. This role focuses on technical leadership and team development, along with defining quality metrics. The position offers a distributed work environment with twice-yearly team meet-ups and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Personal learning and development budget

Annual compensation review

Employee Assistance Programme

Maternity and paternity leave

Qualifications

• Strong software engineering, Linux, and open source background.
• Experience with quality processes and continuous integration tools.
• Engineering management experience and ability to grow team members.

Responsibilities

• Define and monitor quality metrics for the Linux distro.
• Manage expectations with engineering teams and stakeholders.
• Setup and maintain continuous integration for deliverables.

Skills

Software engineering

Linux

Open source background

C/C++

Python programming

Shell scripting

Quality processes

Continuous integration tools

Engineering management

Job description

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Ubuntu Engineering Delivery and Excellence Manager, London

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Client:

Canonical

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

f483bfdb3957

Job Views:

9

Posted:

13.08.2025

Expiry Date:

27.09.2025

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Job Description:

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 + 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.

We are hiring a Quality Engineering Manager for our Ubuntu Quality Engineering team, with an impactful mission to take our Linux distro quality to a new level through automation and large-scale data analysis.

As the Ubuntu Quality Engineering Manager, you must be an experienced engineer who has built large-scale software quality assurance frameworks, is passionate about the future of Ubuntu, mindful of the dynamics of the open source ecosystem, and equally aware of mission-critical requirements related to shipping the best Linux distro to users and partners world-wide. You will work closely with the various teams involved in creating Ubuntu and influence their practices to improve quality in every step of Ubuntu engineering. Your goal is to rethink the way a Linux distro approaches quality - bringing together automation, third-party analysis tooling, feedback loops from the community and user base, and our own test capabilities. Your team will monitor, develop and improve the quality of the Ubuntu System, to drive quality excellence and best DevOps practices among Ubuntu Desktop, Server, Containers and VM at package, system, and cluster levels.

As every engineering manager at Canonical, your role is technical but your focus is your team. You are expected to help them grow as engineers, do important and satisfying work, and work well with colleagues and the community. Technical leadership experience and experience as a software engineer are necessary prerequisites for this role. You will be expected to lead, challenge, and develop strong engineers, positively influence the culture, facilitate technical delivery, and work with your team on strategy and execution.

The role entails

• Define and monitor quality metrics for the most popular Linux distro in the world
• Set and manage expectations with other engineering teams, management, and external stakeholders
• Advocate and advance modern, agile software development practices
• Develop and evangelize great engineering and organizational practices
• Setup and maintain continuous integration for all supported deliverables
• Develop a team with a culture of high quality and performance
• Work from home with international travel twice per year for up to two weeks

What we are looking for in you

• You have a strong software engineering, Linux, and open source background
• Your technical knowledge includes C/C++, Python programming, and Shell scripting
• You have experience with quality processes and continuous integration tools and principles
• You have engineering management experience and enjoy growing people
• You are a strong proponent of data-driven decision making

Nice-to-have skills

• A good understanding of Debian packaging and snaps will be valuable
• Familiarity with an agile development environment

What we offer colleagues

We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognise outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus or commission. We provide all team members with additional benefits, which reflect our values and ideals. We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally.

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