About Canonical

Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the world's most widely deployed open source operating system. As a leading provider of open source software and operating systems, Canonical serves global enterprise and technology markets. Ubuntu powers breakthrough initiatives in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. Our customers include the world's top public cloud and silicon providers, as well as industry leaders across multiple sectors.

Founded and led by its visionary founder, Canonical is profitable and growing rapidly. The company pioneers global distributed collaboration, with over 1200 colleagues across 75+ countries and very few office-based roles. Teams align on strategy and execution during in-person meetings two to four times a year in exciting locations worldwide. This remote-first culture enables engineers to thrive from anywhere, contributing to one of the most influential open source projects globally.

Role Overview

The Junior Ubuntu Software Engineer role at Canonical offers early-career professionals and new graduates an entry into world-class open source engineering. You'll work across the Ubuntu Engineering organization, focusing on quality, performance, and resilience in software. Engineers at Canonical are versatile, comfortable designing new software, packaging, integrating, testing, and shipping the vast catalog of open source software from Ubuntu repositories.

Ubuntu is more than an OS—it's a platform enabling innovation for millions, from students and hobbyists to high-performance engineering teams in corporate and academic settings. Join one of four key teams: Foundations (core utilities, toolchains), Server (Ubuntu Server evolution), Desktop (immutable desktop, WSL, gaming, Flutter apps), or Debcrafters (Ubuntu archive maintenance). Work on development in Rust, Go, Flutter, Python; architecture from boot firmware to cloud; packaging with Debian and Snaps; automation for building and testing; and distro engineering.

Key Responsibilities

As a Junior Ubuntu Software Engineer, your role will be tailored to specific teams after initial interviews. Core responsibilities include:

• Designing, building, and shipping software in Rust, Go, Python, and C/C++.
• Packaging, integrating, testing, and uploading open source software to Ubuntu repositories.
• Debugging complex issues and designing robust solutions.
• Authoring and improving technical and community documentation.
• Contributing to upstream and neighboring open source projects.
• Collaborating within globally distributed teams.
• Continuously learning and advancing technical and professional skills.

This position suits those passionate about open source, ready to build a career while engaging with the broader Ubuntu community.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks driven junior engineers with:

• An exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• An undergraduate degree in Computer Science or a STEM field, or a compelling narrative about your alternative path.
• Demonstrated drive and a history of going above and beyond in projects or contributions.
• Interest in open source software, Linux, and Ubuntu technologies.
• Skills or enthusiasm in development, architecture, packaging, automation, or distro engineering.

Prior experience is not strictly required—Canonical's junior career path welcomes new graduates and early-career engineers eager to learn and contribute with precision and enthusiasm.

Benefits & Perks

Working at Canonical offers unparalleled benefits for junior engineers:

• 100% remote work from any time zone worldwide.
• Access to the freshest open source technologies and massive repositories.
• Collaboration with a global team of experts.
• Paid travel to in-person strategy meetings in inspiring global locations.
• Founder-led, profitable company with job security and growth opportunities.
• Opportunities to contribute to high-impact projects shaping Ubuntu's future.

Canonical invests in your growth through continuous learning, skill development, and community engagement.

Career Growth

Canonical's junior career path is designed for rapid progression. Start by building expertise in Ubuntu's core teams, then expand into specialized areas like server infrastructure, desktop innovation, or archive maintenance. You'll engage with the open source community, contribute upstream, and develop leadership skills in a distributed environment. Many engineers advance to senior roles, influencing Ubuntu's direction and Canonical's enterprise offerings. With a focus on learning, you'll master modern languages like Rust and Go while gaining distro engineering prowess.

Why Join Canonical

Join Canonical to work on Ubuntu, the backbone of open source innovation worldwide. Be part of a remote-first culture that values quality, performance, and community. Contribute to platforms powering public clouds, AI, IoT, and more. With a thriving, profitable company and global reach, Canonical offers stability and excitement. If you're passionate about open source and ready to build your career on one of the most prolific software platforms, this is your opportunity to make a global impact.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role truly remote? Yes, fully remote in every time zone worldwide.

Q: What experience level is required? Ideal for new graduates and early-career engineers with strong academics and drive.

Q: Which programming languages will I use? Primarily Rust, Go, Python, C/C++, plus Flutter for desktop.

Q: How does the interview process work? First round identifies team fits, followed by team-specific second-round interviews.

Q: Can I contribute to open source communities? Absolutely—community contributions are encouraged and part of the role.