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)

2 days ago – be among the first 25 applicants.

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 at 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 optimised for new silicons.

Partner Engineering works closely with worldwide silicon companies to optimise 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 new ideas in your areas of interest and advising on work being done elsewhere
• Collaborating with other teams in the Ubuntu and Debian communities, upstream projects, and commercially supported customers
• Debugging issues in open source code and team‑maintained code
• Helping our customers integrate their apps, SDKs, build OS images, optimise applications with Ubuntu Core, Desktop and Server
• Working 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)
• 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 high school and university
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about an alternative chosen path
• Love for technology and working with brilliant people
• Curiosity, flexibility, articulation and accountability
• Passion, enterprising spirit, thoughtful mindset, and self‑motivation
• Ability to build 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
• 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

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

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu – a crucial open source project and the platform for AI, IoT and the cloud – we are changing the world daily. Canonical recruits on a global basis and sets a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence – to succeed we must 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, challenging you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills and raise your game.

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives and background creates a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.