Remote opportunity at
CanonicalRust Engineering Lead - Linux and Open Source
Canonical is a profitable and growing technology enterprise that publishes Ubuntu and provides open-source software and operating systems for global cloud, data science, IoT, and AI…
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About This Role
Canonical is a profitable and growing technology enterprise that publishes Ubuntu and provides open-source software and operating systems for global cloud, data science, IoT, and AI markets. Operating primarily through a distributed remote model with employees across more than 75 countries, the company is hiring Rust Engineering Leads of all experience levels to expand the use of Rust across its product range and the Ubuntu platform. In this role, you…
Job Description
Canonical is a profitable and growing technology enterprise that publishes Ubuntu and provides open-source software and operating systems for global cloud, data science, IoT, and AI markets. Operating primarily through a distributed remote model with employees across more than 75 countries, the company is hiring Rust Engineering Leads of all experience levels to expand the use of Rust across its product range and the Ubuntu platform.
In this role, you will help modernize foundational software systems that traditionally relied on C or C++, ranging from firmware and bootloaders to the Linux kernel and desktop environments. After an initial interview round, candidates are matched with a specific product team based on their personal interests and background. The position suits self-motivated software engineers with deep Linux expertise who prefer building high-quality Rust applications in a fully home-based, global environment.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement thoroughly tested and documented Rust software
- Promote the adoption of Rust within company initiatives and upstream projects
- Identify specific codebases and projects as candidates for Rust integration
- Debug user-facing issues and resolve problems
- Conduct architectural and code reviews as part of the engineering workflow
- Collaborate with colleagues and the open-source community on technical specifications
- Improve operations and engineering practices continuously
- Deploy and operate team-developed services where applicable
- Serve as a technical advocate to support product success
Requirements
- Extensive personal experience working with multiple versions of Linux
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken English
- Ability to travel internationally twice per year for up to two weeks at a time
- Experience designing and writing high-quality Rust software on Linux
- Deep passion for Linux at the system level
- Self-starting work ethic and organizational skills to meet deadlines
Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or another STEM field, or an equivalent alternative background
- Exceptional academic history spanning high school and university
- Experience building, deploying, and operating APIs and distributed systems for senior-level applicants
- Prior development experience with Ubuntu
- Familiarity with LXD, MicroK8s, SnapD, IoT, Juju, Ubuntu Core, or Ubuntu Pro
- Background in security and performance engineering
Core Skills
Benefits
- Distributed working environment featuring biannual in-person team sprints
- Annual learning and development budget of USD 2,000
- Regular compensation reviews
- Performance-driven annual bonus or commission plan
- Recognition rewards
- Annual holiday leave
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Is this position remote?
Yes, Canonical operates as a distributed company with fully home-based roles across multiple time zones, though team members travel twice a year for in-person gatherings.
What is the salary for the Rust Engineering Lead role?
The salary is not stated in the job posting, though compensation is determined by geographic location, performance, and experience.
What are the travel expectations for this job?
Employees are required to travel twice a year for company events, for up to two weeks each time.
How does the application process work?
You apply through the general Rust engineering posting, and after the first round of interviews, the company matches you with the most suitable product team based on your interests.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.