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

Summary

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems, particularly known for its Ubuntu platform. The role involves collaborating with a distributed team to optimize Ubuntu for new silicon technologies and ensuring high-quality software standards.

Responsibilities

• Collaborating proactively within a distributed team
• Fostering a software ecosystem with seamless user experience for all Ubuntu users
• Evaluating contributions of other engineers to maintain high-quality software standards
• Playing a role in shaping the future of Ubuntu via both - new ideas in your areas of interest and advising on work being done elsewhere
• Collaborating with other teams in the Ubuntu and Debian communities, with upstream projects, and commercially supported customers
• Debugging issues on open source code and team maintained code
• Helping our customers to integrate their apps, SDKs, build OS images, optimize applications with Ubuntu Core, Desktop and Server
• Working with a team to maintain Ubuntu, silicon features, and silicon-optimized packages across platforms and technologies such as:
• Servers, HPC and AI systems, IoT devices, PCs, SmartNICs and automotive systems
• AI stacks
• Graphics, audio and multimedia stacks
• Virtualisation and Containers
• Hardware enablement stacks
• New architectures, architecture variants and optimized toolchains
• Package management and dependencies
• Platform security (secure boot, FDE, Ubuntu Core, Confidential Computing)
• Work from home with global travel 2 to 4 weeks for internal events

Skills

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path
• You love technology and working with brilliant people
• You are curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
• You value soft skills and are passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self-motivated
• You value 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
• Experience with one or more of the following: Graphics, audio, or multimedia stacks
• Virtualization and containers (Docker, OCI, Kubernetes)
• Hardware enablement for platforms and devices, including SmartNICs, NVMe storage, GPUs, audio components, and sensors
• Performance optimization
• 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

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
• Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path
• You love technology and working with brilliant people
• You are curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
• You value soft skills and are passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self-motivated
• You value 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

Nice to Haves

• Experience with one or more of the following: Graphics, audio, or multimedia stacks
• Virtualization and containers (Docker, OCI, Kubernetes)
• Hardware enablement for platforms and devices, including SmartNICs, NVMe storage, GPUs, audio components, and sensors
• Performance optimization
• 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

Benefits

• 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