Senior Software Engineer - Digital Workplace

Canonical Ltd.; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning budget USD 2,000 per year

Annual compensation review

Annual holiday leave

Parental leave (maternity/paternity)

Wellness Platform

Job summary

Canonical Ltd. is seeking engineers to design and deliver robust internal systems with Go, React/Svelte/TypeScript front-ends, and data platforms. You will build scalable services, connect data sources, and craft dashboards with LLM-powered features.

Collaborate across distributed teams, write clear specs, and mentor peers in a globally distributed environment. You will work on data modelling, architecture, and tooling with a focus on testing, security, performance, and accessibility, while

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in two of: Go back-end services, modern front-end (React/Svelte/TypeScript), data engineering/analytics, data visualization, or applied ML/LLM in production workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver systems and platforms, including intuitive UIs.
• Build Go services and APIs connecting many data sources.
• Design data models and architecture for connected systems.
• Turn data into clear dashboards and visualisations.
• Build LLM-powered features into workflows.
• Write specs, estimate work and deliver to criteria.
• Set high standards in code review, testing and docs.
• Mentor engineers and improve team workflow.

Skills

Go

React

Svelte

TypeScript

Data engineering

Data visualization

Applied ML/LLM

Tools

PostgreSQL

Kubernetes

Docker

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 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.

The role

We build internal systems to the same standard as our public products: specified, tested, reviewed and observable. We want engineers who enjoy that rigour and take full ownership of what they ship.

What You Will Do

• Design and deliver systems and platforms, including intuitive UIs
• Build Go services and APIs that connect many data sources
• Design data models and architecture for connected systems
• Turn data into clear dashboards and visualisations
• Build LLM-powered features into everyday workflows
• Write specs, estimate work and deliver to agreed criteria
• Set a high bar in code review, testing and documentation
• Partner with non-technical colleagues to turn needs into tools
• Mentor engineers and improve how the team works

Who You Are

You have deep expertise in at least two of:

• Back-end services in Go
• Modern front-end engineering [React/Svelte/TypeScript]
• Data engineering and analytics
• Data visualisation
• Applied LLM/ML in production workflows

You Also

• Treat testing, security, performance and accessibility as part of the job
• Handle sensitive people data with care
• Write clearly and work well in a distributed team
• Own your work from first spec to production

Nice to have

Python, Go, React, Svelte, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, a history of building tools for HR, finance or operations.

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 recognize 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 2,000 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 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 of software. 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. Most colleagues at Canonical have worked from home since our 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

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.