Overview
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, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.
The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing. Canonical has a large and rapidly growing Linux Kernel Organization with teams across time zones. We have opportunities for technical leadership, engineering management, and engineering directorships. The team is responsible for all supported Ubuntu Linux kernels, on all platforms and architectures from small embedded devices to standard desktop/server systems to large scale cloud environments, mainframes and supercomputers. We care most about hardware and virtualization enablement, security, reliability and performance.
Kernel Team projects include but are not limited to planning, execution, benchmarking, stress testing, optimized kernels for silicon and cloud partners, confidential computing and next-generation security primitives, developer platforms such as Raspberry Pi and RISC-V, enabling Ubuntu on a wide range of embedded systems, Kernel Livepatch, FIPS compliance, Real-Time and Low Latency variants, virtualization, container technology, security with AppArmor/SECCOMP/namespaces, networking (performance and security), and storage (Ceph and DRBD).
We hire candidates of all experience levels from recent graduates through seasoned experts. You must have outstanding academic results, a background in software engineering, be motivated to work in a distributed team and willing to travel globally twice a year for company engineering events.
Location: Working from home, worldwide. We have kernel teams and openings in every time zone and, with the notable exception of Taipei, Taiwan, have no offices and therefore no pressure to work from an office.
What the role entails
- Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team
- Work closely with external silicon, cloud, or hardware manufacturer delivery teams on bleeding-edge platforms
- Diagnose and resolve kernel issues reported by customers, the community, and via rigorous testing
- Take personal responsibility for delivering a flavour of the Ubuntu Linux kernel
- Improve tooling and automation for delivery and test of Ubuntu Linux kernels
- Submit, review, and apply kernel patches, working with internal and external upstream maintainers
What we are looking for in you
- Significant programming experience in C, with Python, Golang, or other similar languages
- Experience with operating system kernel internals and concepts; Linux experience is highly regarded but not essential
- Strong background with git
- Experience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred)
- Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills
- Ability to travel twice a year for company events up to two weeks each
Nice-to-have skills
- Strong grasp of device drivers, BSPs, and other low-level system engineering
- Experience with software packaging formats; direct Ubuntu/Debian/Snap experience is highly regarded
- Understanding of Linux kernel upstream processes and release cycle
- Performance engineering and security experience
- CI/CD and process automation experience
- Prior public involvement with an open source project
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 recent 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; 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.
Location details and related job postings: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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📌 Linux Kernel Engineer - Ubuntu
🏢 Canonical
📍 Brisbane City