Remote opportunity at
CanonicalRust Engineering Lead - Linux and Open Source
Canonical is seeking Rust Engineering Leads at every seniority level for a full-time remote post. It is an open pathway for engineers who favour Rust and…
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About This Role
Canonical is seeking Rust Engineering Leads at every seniority level for a full-time remote post. It is an open pathway for engineers who favour Rust and want to contribute to Linux and open source work. Once the initial interview rounds finish, successful applicants are placed with the product team whose focus best matches their interests. The business is distributed and founder-led. It provides Ubuntu along with enterprise open source software…
Job Description
Canonical is seeking Rust Engineering Leads at every seniority level for a full-time remote post. It is an open pathway for engineers who favour Rust and want to contribute to Linux and open source work. Once the initial interview rounds finish, successful applicants are placed with the product team whose focus best matches their interests.
The business is distributed and founder-led. It provides Ubuntu along with enterprise open source software to cloud platform providers, chip makers and organisations across many sectors. Canonical regards Rust as an increasingly important language for low-level system services, and as a logical successor to C and C++ for many kinds of software. The company hopes to see Rust used throughout its projects, from firmware and boot code up through the kernel, input handling and the graphical desktop, and it wants Ubuntu to be a leading environment for building in Rust.
Engineers in the role build software in Rust that is robust, tested and clearly documented. They promote its use inside Canonical and in upstream projects, locate codebases where Rust would bring the most value, and fix defects that users report. They take part in code and architecture reviews, co-write technical specifications with peers, and suggest better engineering and operational habits. In some cases they also deploy and run the services their team creates.
The posting is intended for experienced engineers who have produced high-grade Rust on Linux and who understand Linux internals well. Senior candidates should also bring experience building, shipping and maintaining distributed systems and APIs. Because the company hires across time zones, openings exist in each of them. Pay depends on location, experience and performance rather than a stated figure.
Responsibilities
- Write Rust code that is robust, tested and documented
- Encourage Rust adoption within Canonical and in upstream projects
- Pinpoint codebases that should move to Rust first
- Diagnose and resolve issues raised by users
- Join code and architecture reviews
- Co-author technical specifications with community members and colleagues
- Propose better engineering and operations methods
- Occasionally deploy and manage the team's services
Requirements
- Proven record of producing high-quality Rust on Linux
- Solid hands-on understanding of Linux at the system level
- Fluent English in writing and conversation
- Organised, self-motivated and dependable on deadlines
- Able to make two company trips each year, each lasting up to two weeks
- Senior applicants: experience building and running distributed systems and APIs
Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in computing or a STEM field, or a clearly explained alternative route
- Previous work developing for Ubuntu
- Some exposure to Juju, snapd, LXD or MicroK8s tooling, plus IoT or Ubuntu Pro work
- Background in performance engineering or security
Core Skills
Benefits
- Distributed working with two in-person team sprints each year
- USD 2,000 yearly development allowance
- Pay reviewed annually with recognition awards
- Yearly holiday plus maternity and paternity leave
- Employee assistance program
- Trips to new locations to see colleagues, plus Priority Pass and upgrades on long-haul company travel
- Performance-linked yearly bonus or commission
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Can this Rust Engineering Lead job be done remotely?
Yes. The listing is remote, and Canonical notes it has vacancies for Rust developers across all time zones.
What experience should applicants have?
The posting calls for a strong record of writing high-quality Rust on Linux and deep knowledge of Linux at the system level. Senior candidates should also have built and operated distributed systems and APIs.
How does the hiring process work?
Following the initial interview stage, candidates are matched with the product team that suits their interests best.
Is a salary listed?
No figure is given. Base pay depends on location, experience and performance.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.