Linux Software Engineer - Ubuntu -Gen Silicon; and seniority levels

Linux Software Engineer – Ubuntu for Next‑Gen Silicon (multiple roles and seniority levels)

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 founder‑led, profitable, growing and operates in a distributed, remote‑first culture with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries.

Role Overview
We are looking for open‑source enthusiasts to work across the full Linux stack to ensure new silicon technologies—hardware accelerators, AI stacks, confidential computing, networking, virtualization and containerisation—are optimised for new silicon. Partner Engineering works closely with worldwide silicon companies to optimise Ubuntu for x86, ARM, RISC‑V, Power

PC and s390x architectures.

Location: This is a globally remote role.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate proactively within a distributed team.
• Foster a software ecosystem with a seamless user experience for all Ubuntu users.
• Evaluate contributions of other engineers to maintain high‑quality software standards.
• Play a role in shaping the future of Ubuntu through new ideas and advising on work elsewhere.
• Collaborate with the Ubuntu and Debian communities, upstream projects, and commercially supported customers.
• Debug issues in open‑source and team‑maintained code.
• Help our customers integrate their apps, SDKs, build OS images, and optimise applications with Ubuntu Core, Desktop, and Server.
• Work with a team to maintain Ubuntu, silicon features and silicon‑optimised packages across platforms and technologies such as:
• Servers, HPC and AI systems, IoT devices, PCs, Smart
  
  NICs and automotive systems.
• AI stacks.
• Graphics, audio and multimedia stacks.
• Virtualisation and containers.
• Hardware enablement stacks.
• New architectures, architecture variants and optimised tool chains.
• Package management and dependencies.
• Platform security (secure boot, FDE, Ubuntu Core, Confidential Computing).
• Work from home with global travel 2–4 weeks for internal events.

What we are looking for in you

• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path.
• A passion for technology and working with brilliant people.
• Curiosity, flexibility, articulation and accountability.
• A passion for building partnerships with a diverse set of internal and external groups.
• Strong fundamentals in C, C++ and Python.
• Experience or interest in learning Linux distribution packaging.
• Experience or interest in open‑source maintenance or contribution and licenses.
• Fundamental understanding of package management and dependency resolution.

Additional Skills That You Might Also Bring

• Experience with one or more of the following:
• Graphics, audio, or multimedia stacks.
• Virtualisation and containers (Docker, OCI, Kubernetes).
• Hardware enablement for platforms and devices, including Smart
  
  NICs, NVMe storage, GPUs, audio components and sensors.
• Performance optimisation.
• Toolchain development and maintenance.
• Networking protocols and technologies (TCP/IP, DHCP, HTTP/REST).
• Security best practices.
• IoT and embedded systems, including board‑level hardware, SoCs, BMCs, bootloaders, firmware, operating systems, applications and services.

What we offer

• 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 Programme & 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—the most important open source project and platform for AI, IoT and the cloud—we are changing the world daily. We recruit on a global basis and set very high standards for people joining us. We expect excellence—our remote‑first culture since 2004 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. We value diversity of experience, perspectives and background, and we give all applicants fair consideration.

Seniority level:

• Entry level

Employment type:

• Full‑time

Job function:

• Engineering and Information Technology
• Software Development