Ubuntu Engineering Lead

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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 initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and Io
T. We work with the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and a broad range of industry leaders. Canonical is founder‑led, profitable, and growing. We have more than 1, 200 colleagues in over 75 countries, and most roles are remote. Teams meet in person two to four times a year in interesting locations around the world to align on strategy and execution.

Location

Remote roles are available in every time zone.

Role Overview

We are hiring engineering leaders to work across the breadth of our Ubuntu Engineering organisation. Leaders will care deeply for quality, performance and resilience in software and have a proven track record of building, nurturing and developing high‑performing engineering teams. You will be accountable for your technical roadmap, lead your team, and help them grow as engineers while delivering high‑impact work.

The four key teams that ship Ubuntu are:

• Foundations: maintaining foundational software such as architectures, package managers, compilers, toolchains, bootloaders, filesystems and core utilities.
• Server: leading the design, evolution and future of the Ubuntu Server distribution.
• Desktop: driving Ubuntu Desktop, including the immutable Ubuntu Core Desktop, WSL, gaming technology, and a suite of modern applications for the desktop crafted with Flutter.
• Debcrafters: a new team responsible for forward movement, maintenance and overall health of the Ubuntu archive, one of the most abundant repositories of open‑source software available today.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the team to elevate the Linux developer and user experience.
• Designing, building and shipping high‑quality, performant software in Rust, Go and Python.
• Demonstrating sound engineering principles through architecture, development and code reviews.
• Taking responsibility for planning, estimation and execution.
• Working with product management to define the vision and strategy for Ubuntu.
• Setting expectations with other engineering teams, senior management and external stakeholders.
• Offering coaching, mentoring, technical feedback and hands‑on career development.
• Contributing to upstream and neighbouring open‑source projects.
• Optimizing the distribution for performance, reliability and security.
• Debugging complex system‑level issues and delivering robust solutions.
• Authoring and improving technical and community documentation.

Qualifications

• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path.
• Ability to drive and deliver technical workstreams beyond expectations.
• Lead and coach others to deliver exceptional engineering work.
• Demonstrated passion for open‑source software.
• Significant experience with Rust, Go, Python, Flutter or C/C++.
• Professional written and spoken English.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Result‑oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments.
• Ability to travel twice a year for company events up to two weeks each.

Nice‑to‑Have Skills

• Experience contributing to or leading open‑source projects.
• Experience with Linux distributions or distribution engineering.
• Experience with software packaging and distribution mechanisms.
• Performance or security engineering experience.

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.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues.
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long‑haul company events.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.