About Canonical
Canonical is a global software company and the publisher of Ubuntu, one of the world’s most popular open-source operating systems. Founded in 2004, Canonical is headquartered in London, UK, with a remote-first workforce spanning over 70 countries. The company provides enterprise support and services for Ubuntu and related open-source technologies, empowering businesses to scale securely in the cloud, data centres, and edge environments. Known for its strong commitment to innovation, Canonical supports a range of industries including finance, automotive, telecommunications, and government, and collaborates with leading tech firms worldwide.
Core Responsibilities
- Contributing to the long-term roadmap of the product during global sprint sessions held twice a year.
- Placing strong emphasis on design and user experience, including within developer tools and command-line applications.
- Producing robust, efficient, and high-quality code capable of supporting millions of active users worldwide.
- Striving towards advanced proficiency in core programming languages while deepening knowledge of Linux systems.
- Actively engaging with end users and the open-source community through activities such as code reviews and issue tracking.
- Addressing customer concerns as a priority while building an understanding of enterprise-level requirements.
- Expanding expertise in security principles for both software design and practical implementation.
Skills & Requirements
- Strong academic achievements at both secondary and university levels.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business Informatics, Mathematics, or another STEM field that includes programming coursework.
- Proven ability to begin contributing immediately by delivering high-quality code in at least one of the following languages: Python, Rust, C/C++, Golang, JavaScript, or Java.
- Practical experience with Ubuntu or another Linux distribution.
- Demonstrated history of exceeding expectations and consistently achieving exceptional outcomes.
- Highly organised and results-driven, with a strong commitment to meeting deadlines and objectives.
- Engagement in personal technology or software engineering projects beyond academic requirements.
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Strong interpersonal capabilities, coupled with curiosity, adaptability, and accountability.
- A sense of personal responsibility, thoughtfulness, and self-awareness, with the ability to reflect and grow.
- Willingness to travel internationally up to twice per year for company gatherings lasting as long as two weeks.
Preferred Additional Skills
- Contributions to upstream open-source projects.
- Experience with packaging and Linux distribution projects such as Debian, Fedora, Arch, or Nix.
- Leadership and organisational experience.
- Strong presentation and technical writing abilities.
- Interest in business and commercial aspects of technology.
Working Environment
Compensation is shaped by a combination of geography, experience, and performance, with regular reviews to ensure fairness across regions. Salaries are assessed annually more frequently for graduates and associates to reward exceptional results. Beyond base pay, employees may receive a performance-based annual bonus or commission. A wide range of benefits is provided, reflecting the company’s values and commitment to supporting its people. These programmes are designed to balance global consistency with local relevance.
Benefits and Perks
- A distributed, flexible work environment with the chance to connect in person at biannual team sprints.
- An annual personal learning and development allowance of USD 2,000.
- Yearly compensation reviews to recognise and reward contributions.
- Additional recognition awards for outstanding work.
- Paid annual leave.
- Maternity and paternity leave provisions.
- Access to a Team Member Assistance Programme and wellness resources.
- Opportunities for international travel to collaborate with colleagues.
- Priority Pass membership and upgraded travel options for long-haul company events.