Software Engineer - Immutable Ubuntu Desktop

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very 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 a pioneer of 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 around the world, to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing.

We are hiring a Software Engineer on the Core Desktop team. In this role, you'll join a dedicated team of professionals to build the next generation of immutable Ubuntu desktop. Our goal is to put Linux desktops back at the forefront of security, reliability and usability. In this project we combine the best ideas of immutable Linux with the latest Linux desktop experience to bring our global ecosystem of developers a much better platform for innovation. We mostly code in system languages such as C/C++ and use Python and Shell scripting as well. Occasionally we use Go, and Dart / Flutter. This role offers a unique opportunity to grow and learn in a fast-paced environment. Your contributions, guided by more experienced team members, will be essential in shaping the future of Ubuntu's Core Desktop.

Location: This this is a home-based position on a team in the EMEA region.

What your day will look like

• Design and develop elements of the Core Desktop.
• Work with the latest Linux container technologies - kernel namespaces, cgroups, apparmour, seccomp and more
• Write high quality, defensive and performant code for millions of demanding daily users
• Collaborate with team members to understand the intricacies of immutable desktops.
• Participate in code reviews to gain a deep understanding of quality standards and architecture.
• Engage with the Ubuntu community to gather user feedback and insights.
• Contribute to documentation to aid in your learning and that of future team members.
• Take part in regular team meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and upcoming development sprints.
• Troubleshoot and resolve user-reported issues, gaining experience in debugging and problem-solving.

What we are looking for in you

• Outstanding academic results
• An undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path.
• An understanding of software development methodologies and life cycles.
• A passion for technology and a drive to work with intelligent, motivated colleagues.
• Willingness to learn and adapt, with a keen interest in the challenges of immutable desktop environments.
• Skills in Linux containerisation technologies - kernel namespaces, cgroups, apparmour, or seccomp
• Skills in Linux desktop environments - XDG portals, free desktop specifications, systemd, GRUB etc.
• Skills in C/C++, Go, Python and Shell scripting.
• Good communication skills for both internal and external interactions.
• Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks long.

Additional skills that you might also bring

• Familiarity with Rust, Golang and Dart / Flutter is a plus.
• Initiative to proactively identify opportunities and solve challenges.
• Curiosity, flexibility, and a strong sense of accountability.
• A focus on soft skills, including passion, enterprise, and self-motivation.

What we offer you

We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognise outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus. We provide all team members with additional benefits, which reflect our values and ideals. We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally.

• 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
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 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 that is at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open source projects and the platform for AI, IoT and the cloud, we are changing the world on a daily basis. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do.

Canonical has been a remote-first company since its inception in 2004.​ Work at Canonical is a step into the future, and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game. Canonical provides a unique window into the world of 21st-century digital business.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer

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

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