About Canonical

Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the world's leading open source operating system powering public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. As a pioneer in global distributed collaboration, Canonical employs over 1200 colleagues across 75+ countries with a predominantly remote-first culture. Teams convene 2-4 times yearly in exciting global locations to align on strategy and execution. Founder-led and profitable, Canonical is at the forefront of the open source revolution, serving top public cloud providers, silicon leaders, and enterprises worldwide.

Role Overview

Canonical is seeking an Engineering Manager for Ceph & Distributed Storage to spearhead efforts in making open source storage accessible and efficient. With the world generating over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data daily, this role focuses on simplifying Ceph deployment—from massive enterprise data centers to edge sites—using commodity hardware. You'll blend technical expertise with leadership to build high-performing, globally distributed teams that deliver outstanding software solutions. This home-based position in the Americas offers up to 20% global travel, embodying Canonical's remote-first ethos and commitment to excellence in open source innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a distributed team developing Ceph-focused software-defined storage solutions optimized for Ubuntu.
• Build, manage, and scale a global engineering team across time zones.
• Coach, mentor, and provide feedback to foster engineer growth and high performance.
• Contribute technically to team goals, upholding sound architecture, quality, testing, and documentation standards.
• Set realistic schedules with iterative feedback loops and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Champion agile practices, engineering excellence, and a collaborative culture aligned with Canonical values.
• Collaborate with leadership on strategy, execution, and cross-team initiatives.

Qualifications & Requirements

To thrive as Engineering Manager - Ceph & Distributed Storage at Canonical, you need a robust software engineering foundation, ideally with Python and C++ proficiency. Hands-on experience operating scale-out storage clusters on Linux in production—especially Ceph—is essential. You should have a passion for developing people, with proven leadership in agile environments, delivering high-quality software on time. Knowledge of modern technologies and a drive to simplify complex infrastructure for global adoption are key. Canonical values technical depth, cultural fit, and the ability to inspire teams toward open source excellence.

Essential Skills

• Software engineering experience, preferably Python and C++.
• Production experience with Ceph or similar distributed storage on Linux.
• Track record of managing, coaching, and mentoring developers.
• Agile development expertise and passion for software quality.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a premium work environment tailored for top talent. Enjoy fully remote work from anywhere in the Americas, with global travel opportunities up to 20% for team offsites and industry events. Benefit from a profitable, growing company investing in open source leaders like Ubuntu. Additional perks include professional development resources, health and wellness support, and a culture emphasizing work-life balance in a high-impact, low-meeting environment. As an equal opportunity employer, Canonical champions diversity, fostering inclusive teams that drive innovation.

Career Growth

At Canonical, engineering managers don't just lead—they evolve. You'll receive dedicated coaching to hone leadership skills while staying technically sharp. Opportunities abound to influence product roadmaps, contribute to upstream open source projects, and grow into senior leadership. Canonical's flat structure and global reach provide visibility and impact, with many colleagues advancing rapidly since the company's 2004 inception. Embrace continuous learning in AI, cloud, and storage technologies, all while working on Ubuntu's ecosystem that shapes the future of computing.

Why Join Canonical

Joining Canonical means stepping into the future of open source. Work on Ubuntu, the platform for AI, IoT, and cloud, alongside industry pioneers. Our remote-first model eliminates commutes, enabling focus on meaningful work with flexible hours across global teams. Be part of a profitable, founder-led powerhouse growing at scale, delivering tools that make distributed storage simple and ubiquitous. Canonical's commitment to excellence attracts the best minds, offering unparalleled challenges, satisfaction, and the chance to push technological boundaries while enjoying a supportive, values-driven culture.

Role FAQs

Is this role fully remote?

Yes, this is a home-based role in the Americas with up to 20% travel for events and team meetups.

What experience with Ceph is required?

Production experience operating scale-out Ceph clusters on Linux is highly preferred.

How does Canonical support professional growth?

Through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and access to cutting-edge projects in open source storage and Ubuntu.

What is the team structure?

You'll build and lead a globally distributed team of strong engineers focused on Ceph solutions.

Does Canonical require office presence?

No, Canonical has been remote-first since 2004, with rare in-person strategic gatherings.