Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer - Silicon Enablement

Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer – Silicon Enablement

Join Canonical for the Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer – Silicon Enablement role. Ubuntu Linux is the most popular Linux distribution, and Canonical is expanding support for System on Chip (SoC) platforms to meet demand from manufacturers such as NVIDIA, Xilinx, Media Tek and Qualcomm.

The Canonical Kernel Team builds, maintains and distributes the Linux kernel for Ubuntu. The role requires strong software engineering at the hardware level and a passion for optimizing silicon performance.

• Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team
• Work closely with silicon vendor partners to integrate their platform support into the Ubuntu Linux kernel for their product ranges
• Diagnose and resolve issues in the kernel reported by partners, customers, the community at large, and discovered by your own rigorous testing
• Take responsibility for the delivery of distinct silicon‑optimised variants of the Ubuntu Linux kernel to the world
• Improve tooling and automation for the delivery and test of Ubuntu Linux kernels
• Submit, review, and apply kernel patches, working with both internal and external upstream maintainers
• Identify new means of maximising performance on partner silicon

• Well‑organised and motivated self‑starter able to thrive in a remote work environment
• Professional manner with colleagues, business partners, and the open‑source community
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal
• Significant programming ability in C
• Strong grasp of device drivers, BSPs, and other aspects of hardware‑level system engineering
• Solid background with git
• Understanding of operating system kernel fundamentals
• Ability to travel twice a year for company events of up to two weeks length

• Python and Bash scripting ability
• Prior background with the major SoC families
• Ubuntu/Debian/Snap packaging
• Demonstrated experience with Linux kernel patching and debugging
• Solid understanding of performance optimisation for silicon platforms

• Home‑based 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
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 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 – one of the most important open source projects and the platform for AI, IoT and the cloud – Canonical is changing the world on a daily basis. 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. Canonical has been a remote‑first company since 2004.

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.

Entry level

Full‑time