About Canonical

Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the world's leading open source operating system powering enterprise cloud, AI, data science, IoT, and innovation across industries. As a pioneer in global distributed collaboration, Canonical employs over 1200 colleagues in 75+ countries with minimal office-based roles. Teams align through in-person strategy meetings in exciting global locations two to four times yearly. Founder-led and profitable, Canonical drives open source excellence for top public cloud providers, silicon leaders, and enterprise giants embracing Ubuntu for cloud-native strategies.

Role Overview

The Microservices Engineer role at Canonical is a remote-first opportunity for exceptional backend engineers specializing in REST API microservices using Go and Python. This general selection track spans all seniority levels, targeting outstanding professionals with crisp views on API design, microservices architecture, engineering processes, and DevOps. Services scale to millions of Ubuntu clients and thousands of community collaborators, underpinning critical global infrastructure. As Ubuntu dominates enterprise computing via cloud and developer tools, Canonical invests in elevating web services for superior scalability, performance, resilience, and DevOps.

Key focus areas include API design, documentation, governance; database performance; multi-region delivery; fuzzing and security analysis; tracing/profiling for distributed insights; and next-generation DevOps. With teams in every time zone, this home-based worldwide role offers flexibility and global impact.

Key Responsibilities

As a Microservices Engineer, your day involves crafting high-quality, robust software at massive scale. You'll design APIs and architectures for peer review, write comprehensive tests, build fault-tolerant applications, and collaborate proactively across Canonical's distributed teams. Expect to demonstrate technical leadership, debug complex issues, produce top-tier documentation, and contribute across teams. Working from home, you'll travel globally twice annually for up to two weeks per event to foster strategy and execution.

Daily Impact

• Develop scalable, maintainable code in Go/Python.
• Optimize for resilience in multi-region environments.
• Apply tracing, profiling, and security techniques.
• Drive CI/CD and DevOps best practices.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks engineers with exceptional academic records from high school and university, typically holding undergraduate degrees in Computer Science or STEM (or a compelling alternative narrative). Required: proficiency in Python and/or Go; history of modern, maintainable software; experience with relational/non-relational databases; CI/CD expertise; systems programming or scalable web services; professional English; Linux familiarity (Debian/Ubuntu preferred); interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, accountability, passion, communication, and result-orientation. Willingness to travel twice yearly is essential.

Additional Nice-to-Haves

• Container tech: LXD, Docker, Kubernetes.
• Build systems, toolchains, cross-compilation.
• Hyperscale/public/private clouds.
• Distributed systems design/operation.
• Performance engineering, security.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical shapes compensation based on location, experience, and performance, with annual reviews (more frequent for graduates/associates) and performance-driven bonuses. Enjoy fully remote work from anywhere worldwide, global team collaboration, and biannual travel to inspiring locations. Contribute to Ubuntu's open source ecosystem, advancing enterprise Linux, cloud, AI, and IoT. Access cutting-edge tools, continuous learning, and a culture valuing innovation and work-life balance in a profitable, growing company.

Career Growth

Canonical fosters rapid advancement for high performers. Microservices Engineers level up through technical leadership, cross-team contributions, and community engagement. With growing teams focused on web services excellence, you'll gain expertise in scalability, resilience, and DevOps, positioning you as an industry leader. Annual reviews ensure recognition, while global exposure builds networks in open source and enterprise tech.

Why Join Canonical

Join a remote-first pioneer shaping Ubuntu's dominance in public cloud, AI, and IoT. Work on services critical to millions, collaborating with top talent worldwide. Canonical's commitment to open source, profitability, and innovation offers unparalleled impact. Elevate your career in a founder-led environment prioritizing quality, performance, and global collaboration—no offices, just results and exciting offsites.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role fully remote? Yes, home-based worldwide with teams in every time zone.

Q: What tech stack is used? Primarily Go and Python for REST API microservices, with Linux/Ubuntu focus.

Q: What's the travel requirement? Twice yearly for up to two weeks each, in global locations.

Q: Seniority levels? All levels—from junior to senior—for outstanding candidates.

Q: How is salary determined? Based on location, experience, performance; includes base, bonus, annual reviews.

Q: Do I need a degree? Undergraduate in CS/STEM preferred, or strong alternative narrative.