Principal Software Engineer - Video - Design Experience - (Open to Bay area or ANZ, relocation provided to ANZ)

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Sydney / Australia

About the Role

Join the team redefining how the world experiences video creation at Canva. As a Principal Software Engineer - Video - Design Experience, you'll be the technical visionary leading our mission to democratize video creation through world-class rendering engines, scalable infrastructure, and AI-powered creativity. This technically ambitious role sits at the intersection of engineering, creativity, and innovation, powering millions of users worldwide from everyday creators to global brands. Open to Bay Area or ANZ locations with relocation provided to ANZ, you'll work in a hybrid model from our flagship Sydney campus or additional ANZ hubs. You'll architect Canva's video stack, designing cutting-edge rendering engines, optimizing composition pipelines, and solving complex export challenges that support millions of daily exports. Partnering with research teams, you'll embed AI and ML into every stage of the video creation process—from real-time generative tools to smart editing workflows—transforming Canva into an AI-first creative platform. Leading innovative features like AI-powered effects and advanced international language support, you'll mentor engineers, shape architectural standards, and push the boundaries of browser-based video creation. Our Video team is on a mission to deliver seamless, professional-quality experiences to millions worldwide, building robust infrastructure that powers everything from individual creators to enterprise teams. Canva's design-focused, innovative, and collaborative culture empowers you to find the balance that drives both personal and team success. With equity packages, inclusive parental leave, flexible options, and a Vibe & Thrive allowance, you'll thrive while achieving our crazy big goals alongside talented Canvanauts who celebrate diverse skills, backgrounds, and passions.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and lead Canva's video technology stack, balancing performance, scalability, and user experience
• Design cutting-edge rendering engines and optimize video composition pipelines
• Drive performance optimizations and solve complex export cost and reliability challenges
• Mentor engineers and establish architectural standards for video technology
• Lead development of innovative features like AI-powered effects and advanced international language support
• Partner with research teams to embed AI/ML into video creation workflows
• Build scalable, high-performance rendering systems powering millions of daily exports
• Pioneer next-gen cross-platform export engines and real-time generative tools
• Collaborate with design and product teams to deliver seamless video creation experiences
• Tackle complex problems at the intersection of engineering, creativity, and innovation
• Shape the technical vision for Canva's AI-first creative platform

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience building high-performance video and graphics rendering engines
• Deep expertise in video editing, composition, or similar creative software
• Proven skills in scalable system architecture supporting millions of users
• Track record of technical leadership in video or digital content creation tooling
• Experience with cross-platform development and engine consolidation
• Strong background in performance optimization for real-time rendering systems
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineering teams and shape architectural standards
• Bachelor's or higher degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating AI/ML into video processing pipelines
• Familiarity with browser-based graphics technologies (WebGL, Canvas, WebCodecs)
• Previous work on video export systems handling high-volume workloads
• Knowledge of international language support in multimedia applications
• Contributions to open-source video/graphics projects
• Experience in creative software companies serving global creators

Required Skills

• Video rendering engine development
• Graphics programming (WebGL, Canvas, WebGPU)
• Scalable system architecture
• Performance optimization
• Video composition and editing algorithms
• Cross-platform development
• AI/ML integration for creative tools
• Technical leadership and mentoring
• Browser-based multimedia technologies
• Real-time video processing
• Export pipeline optimization
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Innovative thinking
• User experience focus
• Communication and stakeholder partnership
• Code quality and architectural standards

Benefits

• Equity packages to share in Canva's success
• Inclusive parental leave policies for all parents and carers
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup
• Flexible leave options to recharge and thrive
• Hybrid work model with choice in location (Bay Area or ANZ, relocation to ANZ provided)
• Flagship Sydney campus with hubs across ANZ
• Moments of magic, connection, and fun throughout life at Canva
• Virtual interview process with accommodations available
• Opportunities to work on world-class creative tools used by millions

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.