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

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Auckland / New Zealand

About the Role

Join the team at Canva redefining how the world experiences video creation. As a Principal Software Engineer - Video - Design Experience, you'll be the technical visionary leading our Video group's mission to democratize professional-quality video for millions of users worldwide, from everyday creators to global brands. Based in our Auckland/New Zealand hub (open to Bay Area or ANZ candidates with relocation provided to ANZ), you'll work in a hybrid model within our innovative Engineering team, architecting scalable rendering systems, pioneering AI-powered features, and pushing the boundaries of browser-based creativity. At Canva, our design-focused culture thrives on collaboration, bold innovation, and empowering Canvanauts to balance impactful work with moments of magic and connection. In this technically ambitious role at the intersection of engineering, creativity, and AI, you'll lead the video technology stack that powers millions of daily exports. You'll design next-gen rendering pipelines and cross-platform export engines, optimize for performance and cost at massive scale, and integrate cutting-edge AI tools like real-time generative effects and smart editing workflows. Partnering with talented engineers, designers, and researchers, you'll solve complex challenges in video composition, browser rendering, and global scalability while mentoring teams to uphold Canva's high architectural standards. Your work will transform Canva into an AI-first creative platform, making video creation seamless and accessible. We're looking for a proven leader with deep expertise in high-performance video/graphics engines, scalable systems, and creative software development. If you have a track record of technical leadership in digital content tools, experience with cross-platform consolidation, and a passion for user-centric innovation, you'll thrive in our collaborative environment. Canva celebrates diverse skills and backgrounds—we make decisions based on experience, passion, and cultural fit. Interviews are virtual; share your pronouns and any adjustments needed. Discover more about life at Canva and apply to shape the future of video creation today.

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 processes
• Build scalable, high-performance rendering systems powering millions of daily exports
• Pioneer next-gen rendering pipelines and cross-platform export engines
• Collaborate with design and product teams to enhance browser-based video creation
• Champion Canva's design-focused culture through innovative, user-centric engineering
• Contribute to the mission of democratizing video creation for global creators

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 browser-based video technologies and real-time rendering
• 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 creation workflows
• Familiarity with Canva's design tools or similar creative platforms
• Knowledge of international language support in multimedia applications
• Prior work on cost-optimized video export systems at scale
• Contributions to open-source video/graphics projects

Required Skills

• Video rendering engine development
• Graphics programming (WebGL, Canvas, etc.)
• Scalable system architecture
• Performance optimization
• AI/ML integration in creative tools
• Cross-platform development
• Technical leadership and mentoring
• Browser-based video technologies
• Video composition and editing pipelines
• Cost/reliability optimization for exports
• Collaborative problem-solving
• User-centric design thinking
• Internationalization in multimedia
• Real-time generative tools
• Architectural decision-making
• Code review and standards enforcement

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)
• Opportunities to work on world-class creative tools impacting millions
• Collaborative, innovative culture with moments of magic and connection
• Virtual interview process and inclusive hiring practices

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.