Engineering Manager - Ubuntu Core

Company 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 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. Canonical pioneers 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 worldwide, to align on strategy and execution. The company is founder‑led, profitable, and growing.

We are hiring a technical engineering manager to redefine the embedded Linux experience with the smallest, most secure, and most reliable operating system in the IoT market. This role involves leading a distributed team of software developers across various CPU architectures—to design and implement Ubuntu Core system software—prioritizing requests, planning the roadmap, and ensuring the team can deliver their goals. You will influence culture, facilitate technical delivery, and collaborate with stakeholders.

• Building and leading a distributed team of engineers through hiring, coaching, mentoring, feedback, and career development.
• Demonstrating sound engineering principles by directly contributing toward the team’s goals.
• Coaching and mentoring team members with hands‑on career development.
• Effectively setting and managing expectations with other engineering teams, senior management, and external stakeholders.
• Advocating and advancing modern, agile software development practices and helping develop and evangelize great engineering and organizational practices.
• Contributing to a healthy, collaborative engineering culture in line with company values.
• Actively participating in the leadership team and collaborating with other leaders in the organization.

• Demonstrated competencies in embedded software development.
• Strong skills in Golang, C++ and Shell.
• A solid understanding of Linux and a modern GNU/Linux distribution, Debian or Ubuntu preferred.
• Love for developing and growing people and a track record of doing so.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute to deliver high‑quality software in a timely manner.
• Solid experience working in an agile development environment.
• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about an alternative path.
• Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills.

• Familiarity with an immutable Linux distribution, preferably Ubuntu Core.
• Experience with multiple CPU architectures such as ARM or RISC‑V.
• Experience with Linux native containerisation and security.

We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates). In addition to base pay, we offer a performance‑driven annual bonus or commission. We provide all team members with additional benefits reflecting our values and ideals, balanced globally for fairness.

• 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.

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the publisher of Ubuntu—the platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud—Canonical is changing the world of software. We recruit globally and set a very high standard for people joining the company. Most colleagues work from home since our inception in 2004. Working here challenges 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, perspective, and background creates a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.