Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer - Silicon Enablement

Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer - Silicon Enablement

Ubuntu Linux, the world’s most popular Linux distribution, is expanding its native support for System On Chip (SoC) platforms to deliver the highest performance experience to all users. Canonical is broadening its silicon enablement squads to meet the strong demand from vendors such as NVIDIA, Xilinx, Media Tek, and Qualcomm.

The Canonical Kernel Team – responsible for building, maintaining, and distributing the Linux kernel for Ubuntu – seeks engineers with a deep passion for hardware-level software development and a drive to optimise silicon performance.

Remote work is available worldwide. Experience levels from early‑career candidates with a couple of years to senior industry veterans are welcomed.

• Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team
• Work closely with silicon vendor partners to integrate platform support into the Ubuntu Linux kernel for their product ranges
• Diagnose and resolve kernel issues reported by partners, customers, the community, and through rigorous testing
• Take responsibility for delivering distinct silicon‑optimised variants of the Ubuntu Linux kernel to the world
• Improve tooling and automation for kernel delivery and testing
• Submit, review, and apply kernel patches in collaboration with internal and upstream maintainers
• Identify new ways to maximise performance on partner silicon

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

• 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 publisher of Ubuntu – a critical open‑source platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud – we are changing the world daily. We recruit globally and set a very high standard for our people. We expect excellence and are a remote‑first company since 2004.

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.