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

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country San Francisco / United States

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 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 hubs, collaborating with talented Canvanauts in our design-focused, innovative culture. You'll architect Canva's video stack, designing next-gen rendering pipelines and cross-platform export engines that handle millions of daily exports. Tackle complex challenges like performance optimization, export reliability, and AI integration for real-time generative tools and smart editing workflows. Partner closely with research, design, and product teams to turn Canva into an AI-first creative platform, while mentoring engineers and shaping our video technology standards. Your work will push the boundaries of browser-based video creation, delivering seamless, professional-quality experiences worldwide. Canva's Video team is on a mission to make video creation accessible to everyone, building robust infrastructure that scales effortlessly. We're looking for a leader with deep expertise in video rendering, scalable systems, and creative software who thrives in our collaborative environment. If you have a track record of technical leadership and passion for empowering creators, join us to shape the future of video at Canva. We celebrate diverse skills and backgrounds—apply even if you don't tick every box!

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 infrastructure powering millions of daily video exports
• Collaborate cross-functionally with design, product, and engineering teams
• Pioneer next-gen rendering pipelines and cross-platform export engines
• Champion browser-based video creation pushing technical boundaries
• Ensure seamless, professional-quality video experiences for global users

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
• A 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 and localization in creative tools
• Contributions to open-source video/graphics projects

Required Skills

• High-performance video rendering engine development
• Video composition and editing pipeline expertise
• Scalable system architecture for millions of users
• Technical leadership and mentorship
• Cross-platform development (web, mobile, desktop)
• Performance optimization and profiling
• AI/ML integration for creative tools
• Browser graphics technologies (WebGL, WebCodecs)
• Real-time generative video tools
• Export system reliability and cost optimization
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Innovative thinking in design-focused engineering
• Communication and stakeholder influence
• Code quality and architectural standards
• Internationalization and localization experience

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 campus in Sydney with hubs across ANZ and global opportunities
• Moments of magic, connection, and fun in Canva's collaborative culture
• Virtual interview process with accommodations for all candidates

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.