About Canonical

Canonical is the leading provider of open source software and operating systems, powering global enterprise and technology markets with Ubuntu. As the company behind Ubuntu Linux, Canonical drives innovation in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering, and IoT. Our customers include top public cloud providers, silicon manufacturers, and industry leaders across sectors. With over 1100 colleagues in 75+ countries, Canonical pioneers global distributed collaboration. Teams connect remotely daily and meet in person 2-4 times yearly in exciting global locations to align on strategy and execution. Founder-led and profitable, Canonical is growing rapidly while staying true to open source principles.

Role Overview

The Associate Linux Support Engineer role at Canonical offers a dynamic entry point to build a rewarding career in open source support. This globally remote, home-based position involves delivering expert technical assistance to customers using Ubuntu and Canonical's open source products. You'll tackle complex challenges like triaging cloud environments, debugging Linux kernel crashes, resolving desktop/server issues, and performing root cause analysis. From problem qualification to resolution, you'll own cases across cloud, desktop, and IoT stacks, collaborating with senior engineers when needed. Ideal for passionate Linux enthusiasts eager to learn and grow with industry leaders.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you'll work from your home office to provide outstanding technical support. Key duties include taking ownership of new cases via telephone, email, and web portals; acting as a customer advocate with timely updates; ensuring SLA compliance for maximum satisfaction; contributing and maintaining knowledge base articles; drafting technical notices; prioritizing urgent tasks; continuously learning about evolving products; understanding Ubuntu's development process to manage fix expectations; maintaining team communication; identifying service improvements; and participating in a weekend rotation.

Daily Impact

Expect hands-on problem-solving in diverse environments, from OS configurations to novel kernel issues, all while fostering shared knowledge across Canonical's global teams.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks candidates with an exceptional academic track record from high school and university, preferably an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, MIS, Electrical Engineering, or a compelling alternative path. Essential experience includes Linux troubleshooting—collecting logs, stack traces, and fine-tuning configurations—plus basic hands-on knowledge in at least two areas: Linux server administration, programming fundamentals (bash, Perl, Ruby, Javascript, C/C++, Go), networking (bonding, firewalling, bridging, NFS tuning, MTU), or virtualization/cloud concepts (provisioning, monitoring, orchestration).

You'll thrive if you confidently share ideas, exceed expectations, learn quickly under pressure, communicate strongly in English, appreciate diversity in a multicultural setting, and are result-driven. Availability for international travel twice yearly (up to two weeks) and a clean background check are required.

Nice-to-Have Skills

Experience with virtualized environments (KVM, VirtualBox, VMware) or other open-source desktop technologies is a plus.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a premium remote-first culture with worldwide flexibility. Enjoy working from home anywhere, collaborating with top talent, and attending inspiring global meetups. As a growing, profitable company, we provide stability, career development opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge open source projects. Additional perks include continuous learning resources, inclusive multicultural environment, and the chance to impact enterprise Ubuntu deployments globally.

Career Growth

This associate role is a launchpad for advancement at Canonical. Gain expertise in Linux support, escalate to senior engineering, and contribute to Ubuntu's evolution. With mentorship from industry veterans, regular feedback, and exposure to cloud/AI/IoT frontiers, you'll build skills for long-term success. Canonical invests in your growth through training, knowledge sharing, and strategic projects.

Why Join Canonical

Join the company shaping open source's future. Work on Ubuntu, the world's most widely used Linux distribution in enterprise clouds and beyond. Our remote-first model eliminates commutes, offering work-life balance with global impact. Be part of a diverse, innovative team solving real-world technical challenges. Canonical's commitment to open source, profitability, and employee success makes it an ideal place for Linux professionals.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role truly remote? Yes, fully home-based worldwide with no office requirement.

Q: What does the weekend rotation entail? Periodic on-call shifts to ensure 24/7 support coverage.

Q: Do I need prior professional experience? Hands-on Linux skills are key; entry-level with strong academics welcome.

Q: How does Canonical support learning? Through knowledge bases, team collaboration, and product evolution exposure.

Q: What's the application process? Submit your resume highlighting Linux experience; background check required.