Junior Linux Kernel Engineer

Canonical Ltd.; United States; Remote; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Distributed team with in-person sprint

Learning budget USD 2,000/year

Annual compensation review

Holiday, maternity/paternity leave

Wellness platform

Travel opportunities with Priority/ups

Job summary

Canonical is seeking a Linux kernel engineer to contribute to Ubuntu kernel flavors, work with multinational teams, and mentor on bleeding-edge platforms. You will diagnose kernel issues reported by customers and the community while improving delivery tooling and automation.

The role requires C and/or Rust experience, Git proficiency, and strong English communication, with travel twice yearly for company events.

Qualifications

• Proficient in C and/or Rust programming.
• Familiar with version control practices like Git.
• Understanding of OS kernel fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a globally distributed team on kernel development.
• Learn from senior mentors about Linux kernel internals and Ubuntu distribution.
• Work with external silicon, cloud, and hardware teams on cutting-edge platforms.
• Diagnose and resolve kernel issues reported by customers and the community.
• Own delivery of Ubuntu Linux kernel flavors and related tooling.

Skills

C

Rust

Tools

Git

Job description

Responsibilities

• Collaborate proactively with a globally distributed team
• Learn from senior mentors to understand Linux kernel internals and distribution
• Work with external silicon, cloud, and hardware teams on bleeding-edge platforms
• Diagnose and resolve kernel issues reported by customers and the community
• Own delivery of various Ubuntu Linux kernel flavors
• Improve tooling and automation for kernel delivery and testing
• Submit, review, and apply kernel patches with upstream maintainers

Requirements

• Programming experience in C and/or Rust
• Familiarity with version control practices, ideally git
• Understanding of operating system kernel fundamentals
• Effective written and verbal English communication
• Ability to travel twice a year for company events up to two weeks
• Self-starter able to thrive in a remote work environment
• Professional manner with colleagues, business partners, and the open-source community

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest and experience in Rust
• Python and Bash scripting ability
• Prior experience with Ubuntu/Debian/Snap packaging
• Demonstrated experience with kernel patching and debugging
• Strong grasp of device drivers, BSPs, and low-level system engineering

Benefits

• 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 recognition rewards
• Annual holiday leave and maternity/paternity leave
• Team Member Assistance Program and Wellness Platform
• Travel opportunities to meet colleagues, including Priority Pass and upgrades for long-haul events

About the Company

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the publisher of Ubuntu, a leading platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, the company changes the world of software. Canonical recruits globally and sets a high standard for excellence. Most colleagues have worked from home since the company’s inception in 2004.