Graduate Sales Development Representative at Canonical

About Canonical

Canonical is the global software company behind Ubuntu, the fastest-growing Linux distribution and the number one operating system in the cloud. We publish open-source enterprise solutions powering cloud infrastructure, developer tools, IoT devices, and AI innovations. In partnership with industry giants like Google, Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft, Canonical enables companies to become more agile, productive, and quicker to adopt cutting-edge technologies.

Our customer successes span AI development, blockchain platforms, IoT ecosystems, advanced robotics, and self-driving cars, where Ubuntu serves as the preferred development platform. As a profitable and expanding organization, Canonical champions a remote-first culture, empowering talented individuals worldwide to contribute to open-source excellence from anywhere.

Role Overview

The Graduate Sales Development Representative (SDR) role at Canonical is your gateway to a thriving career in technology sales. Renowned as the best technology sales academy in the market, our SDR program selects only the most exceptional and ambitious graduates. This home-based, worldwide position offers you the chance to collaborate with regional sales and marketing teams, identify high-value customer projects, and promote Canonical's innovative product lines across diverse industries and geographies.

If you're organized, persistent, charismatic, hard-working, and passionate about technology's business impact, this role will propel your professional growth in a dynamic, high-impact environment.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Operations

Your day-to-day will involve handling inbound customer inquiries through email, phone, and chat, ensuring every lead is nurtured effectively. You'll execute targeted outbound sales and marketing campaigns to engage prospects proactively.

Global Engagement

Travel to worldwide events and conferences is a key component, where you'll present at booths, drive face-to-face marketing, and create sales opportunities. Collaboration across multiple teams and senior stakeholders will be essential to deliver results, including direct work with marketing on campaign strategies.

Pipeline Generation

A core objective is generating a multi-million pound sales pipeline. This includes researching prospective customers, identifying market trends, mapping accounts for new opportunities, and accurately maintaining leads in our global systems. You'll also contribute to defining team processes and policies while liaising with new and existing customers to set up meetings.

Qualifications & Requirements

We seek graduates with excellent academic results from school and university, demonstrating a strong foundation for success. A genuine passion for business and technology is crucial, as is an interest in how open-source solutions like Ubuntu drive enterprise innovation.

Ideal candidates are organized and persistent, with charismatic communication skills and a hard-working ethic. No prior sales experience is required—our academy provides comprehensive training—but enthusiasm for tech's business implications will set you apart.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers unparalleled benefits for Graduate SDRs. Enjoy fully remote work from anywhere worldwide, fostering work-life balance in a supportive, remote-first culture. Access world-class training through our elite sales academy, positioning you for rapid advancement.

Perks include global travel to industry-leading conferences, collaboration with top tech partners, and the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects in AI, IoT, and cloud. As a profitable company, we provide competitive compensation, comprehensive health benefits, and generous learning stipends to fuel your development.

Career Growth

Canonical's SDR role is designed for acceleration. Many graduates progress to Account Executives, Sales Managers, or leadership positions within 12-24 months. Our structured academy hones skills in prospecting, negotiation, and strategic selling, backed by mentorship from seasoned professionals.

With Ubuntu's dominance in cloud and emerging tech, you'll build a network across Fortune 500 companies and startups, opening doors to diverse career paths in open-source sales, partnerships, or product management.

Why Join Canonical

Joining Canonical means being part of the open-source revolution. Ubuntu powers the world's most innovative technologies, from hyperscale clouds to edge AI devices. Our remote-first culture eliminates geographical barriers, uniting a global team passionate about freedom, security, and collaboration.

Work on meaningful projects that shape the future, enjoy autonomy and trust, and thrive in a company that's profitable, growing, and committed to employee success. Watch our SDR team share their experiences here.

Role FAQs

Is this role suitable for recent graduates?

Yes, it's specifically for ambitious graduates with strong academics and tech passion. No prior experience needed—our academy trains you comprehensively.

What does the travel entail?

Expect exciting trips to global conferences for booth presentations and networking, typically 4-8 times per year, fully supported by Canonical.

How remote is this position?

Fully home-based worldwide, with asynchronous communication in our remote-first culture. Tools like Slack and Zoom keep teams connected.

What salary can I expect?

Competitive for tech sales graduates, with strong uncapped commission potential and rapid progression opportunities.

What's the application process?

Submit your CV highlighting academics and tech interest. Successful candidates advance to interviews assessing communication and drive.