Remote opportunity at
CanonicalUbuntu Engineering Lead
Canonical, the publisher of the widely utilized Ubuntu operating system, is seeking an Ubuntu Engineering Lead to guide engineering teams across four foundational groups: Foundations, Server,…
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About This Role
Canonical, the publisher of the widely utilized Ubuntu operating system, is seeking an Ubuntu Engineering Lead to guide engineering teams across four foundational groups: Foundations, Server, Desktop, and Debcrafters. This remote-first position suits experienced technical leaders and Senior+ engineers who remain close to the code while building, mentoring, and developing high-performing groups. Canonical operates globally with a distributed workforce across multiple time zones, bringing team members together in person two…
Job Description
Canonical, the publisher of the widely utilized Ubuntu operating system, is seeking an Ubuntu Engineering Lead to guide engineering teams across four foundational groups: Foundations, Server, Desktop, and Debcrafters. This remote-first position suits experienced technical leaders and Senior+ engineers who remain close to the code while building, mentoring, and developing high-performing groups. Canonical operates globally with a distributed workforce across multiple time zones, bringing team members together in person two to four times annually for strategy alignment and collaboration.
In this capacity, you will take ownership of technical roadmaps, deliver performant software, and collaborate closely with product management and external stakeholders. Leaders at Canonical contribute directly to open source ecosystems, optimize operating system performance and security, and maintain rigorous software standards. Applicants participate in initial interviews to determine the best team alignment for their skill set before advancing through the evaluation process.
Responsibilities
- Lead engineering teams in enhancing the overall Linux user and developer experience
- Design, build, and deliver high-performance software utilizing Rust, Go, and Python
- Establish engineering standards through robust architecture, development practices, and code reviews
- Manage technical planning, estimations, and project execution
- Collaborate with product management to shape the strategy and vision for Ubuntu
- Align expectations with senior management, external stakeholders, and other engineering teams
- Provide mentorship, coaching, technical feedback, and career development support
- Engage with upstream and neighboring open source communities
- Optimize the operating system distribution for reliability, security, and performance
- Debug complex system-level problems and author technical documentation
Requirements
- Background in software engineering combined with technical leadership experience
- Demonstrated passion for open source software
- Significant hands-on experience with Rust, Go, Python, Flutter, or C/C++
- Professional fluency in written and spoken English
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Result-oriented drive to meet commitments
- Ability to travel twice a year for company events lasting up to two weeks each
Qualifications
- Exceptional academic track record spanning high school and university
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or another STEM discipline, or an equivalent alternative path
- Prior experience contributing to or leading open source projects
- Familiarity with Linux distributions and distribution engineering
- Experience with software packaging and distribution mechanisms
- Background in performance or security engineering
Core Skills
Benefits
- Distributed work environment with biannual in-person team sprints
- Annual personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000
- Annual compensation reviews
- Performance-driven annual bonus and 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 hires remote engineering leads across every time zone, though team members travel twice a year for in-person events.
What technologies are used in this role?
Engineering leads work with technologies such as Rust, Go, Python, Flutter, and C/C++.
What travel is required for the Ubuntu Engineering Lead role?
The role requires traveling twice a year for company events, with each trip lasting up to two weeks.
What is the salary for this position?
The source posting does not specify the salary for this role.
Sample Interview Questions
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