About Canonical

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, stands at the forefront of open source innovation, powering enterprise initiatives in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering, and IoT. With customers spanning the world's leading cloud providers and silicon manufacturers, Canonical delivers Ubuntu as a robust, secure platform for cutting-edge technologies. As a founder-led, profitable, and rapidly growing organization, Canonical employs over 1200 colleagues across 75+ countries, embracing a pioneering global distributed collaboration model. Traditional office roles are rare; instead, teams connect through two to four in-person sprints annually in exciting global locations to drive strategy and execution. This remote-first culture fosters productivity, diversity, and innovation, making Canonical an ideal home for passionate open source developers.

Role Overview

Canonical seeks a skilled C++/Rust Graphics and Windowing System Software Engineer to join the Mir team. Mir (mir-server.io) is Canonical's high-performance, efficient technology stack for window managers, display subsystems, and solutions like Ubuntu Frame. This role involves shaping the future of graphics across single-purpose screens, edge devices, and full desktop environments, while advancing graphics enablement in the Ubuntu certified hardware ecosystem. Primarily using C++ with Rust for forward evolution, you'll design, develop, test features, collaborate with communities, and resolve user issues. With a minimum of 2 years' experience, this position suits engineers passionate about precision, performance, and user experience in modern display technologies impacting millions of developers and users worldwide. Fully remote in APAC, it offers a fast-paced environment rich in learning across the open source spectrum.

Key Responsibilities

In this pivotal role, you'll drive Mir's evolution through hands-on engineering. Core duties include designing and implementing features across the Mir stack, assisting in debugging and resolving complex issues, and participating in rigorous code and architectural reviews. You'll create and enhance tests plus performance benchmarks to detect problems early, ensuring robust, high-quality outputs. Documentation is key—crafting materials to elevate developer experience. Engage proactively with the open source community and commercial partners, while collaborating seamlessly with a distributed global team. Travel internationally twice yearly for up to two weeks supports alignment during company events.

Daily Impact

Expect a blend of deep technical work and collaborative problem-solving, from feature innovation to community responsiveness, all advancing Ubuntu's graphics leadership.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical prioritizes top talent with solid foundations. Essential qualifications include an excellent Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Computer Science, STEM, or related field, plus 2+ years of industry experience. Proficiency in modern C++ and Rust is non-negotiable, alongside familiarity with Linux as a development and deployment platform. Success demands the ability to thrive in remote collaboration with diverse teams, staying motivated, productive, and organized. Willingness to travel internationally twice yearly for company events is required.

Nice-to-Have Expertise

Stand out with Wayland protocol and compositor experience, knowledge of OpenGL, Vulkan, Flutter, or other graphics toolkits, asynchronous programming mastery, proven production code delivery, and strong communication for documentation and presentations.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical tailors compensation globally based on location, experience, and performance, with annual reviews (more frequent for graduates/associates) and performance-driven bonuses or commissions. Beyond competitive base pay, enjoy a distributed work environment with biannual in-person team sprints in inspiring locations. Each colleague receives a USD 2,000 personal learning and development budget yearly, supporting growth in open source and beyond. Benefits balance local needs with global fairness, reflecting Canonical's values of inclusivity and excellence.

Career Growth

At Canonical, careers flourish in a learning-centric culture. This role spans various levels, offering paths to senior engineering, architecture, and leadership in graphics and windowing systems. Access mentorship, technical deep dives, and contributions to high-impact projects like Mir and Ubuntu. The USD 2,000 learning budget fuels certifications, conferences, and courses, while biannual sprints build networks. Annual reviews ensure recognition, with opportunities across Canonical's open source portfolio—from cloud to IoT—empowering long-term impact and advancement.

Why Join Canonical

Joining Canonical means contributing to Ubuntu, the world's most widely adopted open source OS, influencing millions. Work on Mir to pioneer seamless graphics in every environment, from edge to desktop. Thrive in a remote-first, diverse team across 75+ countries, with minimal bureaucracy and maximum autonomy. Canonical's profitability and growth provide stability, while its founder-led vision ensures bold innovation. Shape technologies used by industry leaders, enjoy global travel perks, and grow professionally in a premium, high-performance culture dedicated to open source excellence.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role fully remote? Yes, home-based in APAC with biannual travel for team events.

Q: What experience level is required? Minimum 2 years industry experience; various career levels available.

Q: Must I know both C++ and Rust? Yes, excellent skills in both are essential.

Q: How does Canonical support learning? USD 2,000 annual budget plus abundant internal opportunities.

Q: What's the team structure? Distributed global team focused on Mir graphics stack for Ubuntu.