About Canonical

Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the world's leading open source operating system powering enterprise initiatives in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. As a pioneer in global distributed collaboration, Canonical employs over 1000 colleagues across 70+ countries with very few office-based roles. Teams align on strategy through in-person meetings two to four times a year in exciting global locations. Founder-led and profitable, Canonical delivers mission-critical open source software to top public cloud providers, silicon manufacturers, and industry leaders worldwide.

Role Overview

The HPC Software Engineer role at Canonical focuses on delivering an exceptional high-performance computing (HPC) experience as part of the Ubuntu platform. From bare metal to public cloud, you'll join the HPC team to develop Python-based automation for cluster management and software deployment. Key efforts include creating charms for HPC cluster operations and providing specialized HPC software packages. This position emphasizes precision, efficiency, and automation in HPC tooling, targeting technologies like Infiniband, RDMA, CUDA, MPI, Slurm, Lustre, and Singularity. Fully remote in the Americas, this engineering role suits those passionate about open source and unlocking HPC for global users.

Key Responsibilities

Develop High-Quality Software

Write rigorously designed Python software to automate and manage HPC environments, ensuring reliability and performance.

Global Team Collaboration

Work proactively with a distributed team across time zones, contributing to discussions and collaborative problem-solving.

Debugging and Issue Resolution

Identify bugs in complex HPC systems and deliver high-quality code fixes to maintain operational excellence.

Documentation Contributions

Create technical documentation outlining best practices for authoring operators and charms in HPC contexts.

Innovation and Solution Design

Discuss ideas, prototype solutions, and iterate to build world-class HPC experiences on Ubuntu.

Qualifications & Requirements

To excel as an HPC Software Engineer at Canonical, candidates must demonstrate outstanding skills in maths and sciences, proven high-quality software development, and direct open source contributions. Essential requirements include a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM, or a related field, with an exceptional academic record from high school and university. Proficiency in modern, maintainable Python is mandatory. Familiarity with open source ecosystems and experience in HPC environments (e.g., Infiniband, RDMA, CUDA, MPI, Slurm, Lustre, Singularity) are strong advantages. Additional strengths include Docker image design, public cloud operations, Linux, Kubernetes, OpenStack, LXC/LXD, Go, and Debian packaging. Candidates should be curious, flexible, articulate, accountable, and self-motivated, with a passion for technology and teamwork. Willingness to travel up to four times annually for team events is required.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers competitive, performance-based compensation tailored to location, experience, and contributions, with annual reviews and bonuses. Team members enjoy a fully distributed work environment featuring twice-yearly in-person sprints in inspiring locations. Additional perks include a USD 2,000 personal learning and development budget per year, recognition rewards, generous annual holiday leave, maternity and paternity leave, and an Employee Assistance Programme. Global fairness ensures benefits meet local needs while upholding Canonical's values.

Career Growth

At Canonical, career progression is driven by performance and impact. Engineers advance through technical expertise, leadership in open source projects, and contributions to Ubuntu's ecosystem. Regular compensation reviews, learning budgets, and exposure to cutting-edge HPC, AI, and cloud technologies foster continuous growth. Join a founder-led company investing in talent to shape the future of open source computing.

Why Join Canonical

Work on Ubuntu, the backbone of enterprise open source, alongside brilliant minds in a remote-first culture that prioritizes autonomy and collaboration. Contribute to HPC innovations that power global breakthroughs in science, AI, and engineering. With a profitable, growing company, you'll build mission-critical products in partnership with worldwide communities, enjoying travel opportunities and unparalleled professional development.

Role FAQs

Is this role remote?

Yes, this HPC Software Engineer position is fully home-based in the Americas region.

What HPC experience is needed?

Python experience is required; HPC familiarity (e.g., Slurm, MPI, CUDA) is a strong advantage but not mandatory.

How often does the team meet in person?

Teams meet 2-4 times yearly for sprints and strategy alignment in global locations.

What is the tech stack?

Core focus on Python, charms, Linux kernel, Debian packaging, with HPC tools like Infiniband, RDMA, Lustre.

Is open source experience required?

Ideal candidates have contributed to open source projects and understand community-driven development.