About Canonical

Canonical is the pioneering technology company behind Ubuntu, the world's leading open-source operating system powering cloud computing, AI, IoT, and data science innovations. As publishers of Ubuntu, Canonical serves millions of developers and enterprises, making open source more accessible, reliable, and efficient. With a remote-first culture established since 2004, Canonical operates as a global, distributed team that thrives on collaboration across time zones. The company's commitment to open source principles drives its mission to shape the future of software development, fostering communities and delivering cutting-edge solutions for modern computing challenges.

Role Overview

The Developer Relations Engineer role at Canonical is a dynamic position at the intersection of engineering, strategy, and community engagement. This role focuses on bridging the gap between Canonical's innovative products and the global open-source developer community, particularly in the APAC region with a home-based setup. As part of the newly formed Developer Relations team, you'll communicate Canonical's vision for superior open-source development experiences while gathering invaluable feedback to refine Ubuntu and related offerings. Ideal for technical experts with a passion for developers' needs, this position demands curiosity, problem-solving, and a drive to push beyond the status quo in Linux ecosystems.

Why Developer Relations at Canonical?

In this role, you'll combine hands-on engineering with diplomatic outreach, influencing product direction through direct community interactions. Whether troubleshooting real-world Linux deployments or presenting at global conferences, you'll play a pivotal role in Canonical's growth in cloud, IoT, and AI sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Your day-to-day will be varied and impactful, blending technical depth with community building. Key responsibilities include:

• Participating in team product meetings from strategic planning to daily development, providing expert insights on developer needs.
• Maintaining active conversations with developers across IRC, social media, forums, meetups, and events to foster engagement.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to establish consistent approaches and solve technical challenges faced by users.
• Contributing to and enhancing technical documentation to better serve developer audiences.
• Creating technical articles, presentations, workshops, and delivering talks at conferences and technical events.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the overall developer experience with Ubuntu and Canonical's ecosystem.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks candidates who embody technical excellence and interpersonal finesse. Essential qualifications include:

• Demonstrable passion for open-source software as a programmer or developer with real-world Linux development and deployment experience.
• Practical hands-on expertise in Linux software packaging, including Snaps, debs, charms, rocks, PIP, and containers, plus knowledge of current ecosystem trends.
• Proven contributions to open-source communities, software, or documentation.
• Exceptional public speaking skills as an engaging presenter.
• Ability to navigate diverse perspectives with empathy, tact, and confidence, building trust across organizational boundaries.
• Willingness to travel globally twice a year for company events, upstream projects, and partner engagements.

Additional strengths like prior developer advocacy experience or deep Ubuntu familiarity will set you apart.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a competitive, performance-based compensation package tailored to location, experience, and impact, with annual reviews and bonuses. Beyond salary, enjoy:

• Fully distributed remote work environment with biannual in-person team sprints.
• USD 2,000 annual personal learning and development budget.
• Comprehensive benefits including annual holiday leave, maternity/paternity leave, and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Travel perks like Priority Pass and upgrades for long-haul company events.
• Recognition rewards and opportunities to explore new locations while meeting global colleagues.

Career Growth

At Canonical, career progression is driven by performance and contribution. This Developer Relations Engineer role offers a platform to grow into leadership in open-source advocacy, product strategy, or engineering management. With annual compensation reviews and a learning budget, you'll stay ahead of tech trends in Linux, cloud, and open source. Canonical's remote-first model supports work-life balance while providing exposure to international projects and communities, accelerating your professional development in a high-impact environment.

Why Join Canonical

Joining Canonical means being part of the open-source revolution led by Ubuntu. Work on technologies shaping AI, IoT, and cloud infrastructure, engage with passionate developers worldwide, and contribute to products used by millions. Canonical's remote-first culture emphasizes trust, autonomy, and innovation, with a track record of empowering teams since 2004. In APAC, this home-based role offers flexibility while connecting you to Canonical's global mission, making it ideal for tech professionals seeking purpose-driven careers in open source.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role fully remote? Yes, it's home-based in APAC, with occasional global travel for events.

Q: What time zones are prioritized? While building initially in EMEA and Americas, APAC candidates are welcome for this position.

Q: Do I need Ubuntu expertise? Deep familiarity is a plus, but strong Linux and open-source experience is key.

Q: How does Canonical support professional growth? Through a USD 2,000 learning budget, annual reviews, and exposure to high-profile projects.

Q: What's the application process? Review Canonical's hiring advice and apply via the careers page for best results.