About Canonical

Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the world's leading open source operating system powering enterprise innovation across public cloud, data science, AI, engineering, and IoT. As a pioneer in global distributed collaboration, Canonical employs over 1200 colleagues across 75+ countries with minimal office-based roles. Teams align through 2-4 in-person meetings annually in exciting global locations. Founder-led and profitable, Canonical serves top public cloud providers, silicon manufacturers, and industry leaders, delivering breakthrough open source solutions.

Role Overview

This Junior Software Developer role in the Observability team offers an entry into cutting-edge cloud-native monitoring. You'll develop a resilient, scalable stack integrating best-in-class open source tools like Grafana Loki and Grafana Agent. The opinionated platform delivers deep insights, polished user experiences, and lightweight operations for Day 1 and Day 2. Monitor applications on Kubernetes, OpenStack, bare-metal, VMs, and containers—leveraging Juju for contextual telemetry. Perfect for passionate developers excited by Ubuntu Linux, open source, and observability in distributed systems.

Project Highlights

Explore Canonical's Charmed Observability Stack via this Grafana blog and Juju's model-driven observability series. Join a project shaping enterprise monitoring with seamless integration across hybrid environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate proactively with a globally distributed team of brilliant engineers.
• Write, test, and document high-quality code to build innovative new features.
• Debug complex issues and engage with vibrant open source communities.
• Review and provide feedback on code from fellow engineers.
• Attend industry conferences to represent Canonical and showcase the Charmed Observability Stack.
• Work remotely with 2-4 weeks of global travel for internal strategy sessions and external events.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks enterprising junior talent who thrive in remote, high-impact environments:

• Passion for technology and collaborating with brilliant minds.
• Strong soft skills: passionate, thoughtful, self-motivated, and proactive.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM, or related field.
• Proven Python development skills, ideally with open source contributions.
• Working knowledge of Go programming language.
• Interest and hands-on experience in two or more: Ubuntu Linux, container images, Debian packaging, snaps, distributed systems.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a premium remote-first experience tailored to performance and location:

• Fully remote work in EMEA with global travel opportunities.
• Competitive base pay with annual reviews (more frequent for juniors) based on performance.
• Performance-driven bonuses and recognition for outstanding contributions.
• Access to world-class tools, open source projects, and enterprise customers.
• Team offsites in inspiring locations 2-4 times yearly for strategy and bonding.
• Health, wellness, and professional development support worldwide.

Career Growth

At Canonical, juniors accelerate rapidly in a merit-based culture. Gain exposure to enterprise-scale projects, mentor from senior engineers, and contribute to Ubuntu's ecosystem. Regular reviews ensure top performers advance quickly. Build expertise in cloud-native observability, Kubernetes, and open source leadership. Many start as juniors and grow into senior roles shaping global tech infrastructure.

Why Join Canonical

Work on meaningful open source software impacting millions— from cloud giants to IoT innovators. Canonical's remote-first model fosters work-life balance with purposeful travel. As a growing, profitable company, enjoy stability and upside. Passionate about Linux and observability? This is your chance to code with the best, represent at conferences, and drive innovation in Ubuntu's charmed stacks.

Role FAQs

Is this role fully remote?

Yes, home-based in EMEA with 2-4 weeks travel for events.

What tech stack will I use?

Primarily Python and Go, focused on observability tools, Kubernetes, Juju, and open source integrations.

Do I need prior open source experience?

Preferred for Python, but strong fundamentals and enthusiasm for Ubuntu/Linux suffice for juniors.

How is compensation structured?

Base pay plus performance bonuses, reviewed annually, competitive for EMEA tech market.

What makes Canonical unique?

Founder-led growth, global scale, Ubuntu's ubiquity, and commitment to open source excellence.