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.

Canonical’s Partner Engineering Team is looking for open‑source enthusiasts to work across the full Linux stack to ensure new silicon technologies—such as new hardware accelerators, AI stacks, confidential computing, networking, virtualization, and containerization stacks—are optimized for new silicons.

Partner Engineering works closely with worldwide silicon companies to optimize Ubuntu for their new silicon across architectures including x86, ARM, RISC‑V, Power

PC and s390x.

Location:

Globally remote, with 2‑4 weeks of global travel per year for internal events.

• Collaborate proactively within a distributed team.
• Foster a software ecosystem with seamless user experience for all Ubuntu users.
• Evaluate contributions of other engineers to maintain high‑quality software standards.
• Shape the future of Ubuntu by proposing new ideas and advising on work being done elsewhere.
• Collaborate with other teams in the Ubuntu and Debian communities, upstream projects, and commercially supported customers.
• Debug issues in open‑source code and team‑maintained code.
• Help customers integrate their apps, SDKs, build OS images, and optimise applications with Ubuntu Core, Desktop and Server.
• 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 per year for internal events.

• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling alternative narrative.
• Passion for technology and working with brilliant people.
• Curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable.
• Strong soft‑skill awareness and a self‑motivated, enterprising, thoughtful approach.
• Ability to build partnerships with diverse internal and external groups.
• Strong fundamentals in C, C++ and Python.
• Experience or interest in Linux distribution packaging.
• Experience or interest in open‑source maintenance or contribution and licences.
• Fundamental understanding of package management and dependency resolution.

• 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—Smart
    
    NICs, NVMe storage, GPUs, audio components, 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.

• 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 an equal opportunity employer. We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background creates a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.