About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering force in the open source software world, best known as the company behind Ubuntu, the leading Linux distribution powering enterprise innovation worldwide. From public cloud infrastructures to AI, data science, IoT, and engineering breakthroughs, Ubuntu is the platform of choice for the world's top tech giants, including leading public cloud providers and silicon manufacturers. As a founder-led, profitable, and rapidly growing company, Canonical employs over 1200 colleagues across 75+ countries, embracing a fully distributed, remote-first culture since 2004. With minimal office-based roles and team meetups in exciting global locations 2-4 times a year, Canonical fosters collaboration without boundaries, delivering cutting-edge solutions for enterprise Ubuntu management.

Role Overview

This Software Developer (Backend SaaS) position is a prime opportunity for passionate engineers who thrive on open source, Linux, Python, and scalable web services. You'll join the team building Landscape, Canonical's flagship management tool for deploying, monitoring, and managing Ubuntu fleets at scale. Whether on-premise or in the public cloud, Landscape handles package management, repository operations, health and security monitoring, hardware inventory, and automation. As part of a distributed development team, you'll contribute across the full software lifecycle, modernizing the codebase for Canonical's hosted Landscape SaaS offering. Fully remote in the Americas, this role combines technical depth with global impact, working alongside brilliant minds in a high-performance environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate proactively with a distributed team of engineers across time zones.
• Write high-quality code to create new features, fix bugs, and modernize the Landscape codebase.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to code quality and automated testing practices.
• Participate actively in the engineering process, including code and architectural reviews.
• Take personal ownership of problems, designing and delivering robust solutions.
• Work remotely while embracing global travel for 2-4 weeks annually at internal sprints and external events.
• Assist with release management throughout each development cycle.
• Collaborate closely with DevOps teams on Landscape SaaS, Canonical’s hosted enterprise solution.

Qualifications & Requirements

To excel in this role, you should embody Canonical's values of curiosity, flexibility, accountability, and passion. Ideal candidates love technology and collaborating with brilliant people, bringing soft skills like enterprise thinking and self-motivation. Required qualifications include:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM, or a related field.
• Proficiency in developing public-facing APIs and web applications, preferably with Python.
• Hands-on experience with Python web frameworks like Flask and Django.
• Strong background in databases and ORMs, with PostgreSQL as a plus.
• Comfort working with Ubuntu as both a development and deployment platform.

Your ability to deliver scalable, reliable backend SaaS solutions will be key to success in managing large Ubuntu estates with observability, telemetry, security, compliance, and operations.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a comprehensive, globally fair compensation package tailored to location, experience, and performance, with annual reviews and performance-driven bonuses. Beyond competitive base pay, enjoy:

• A distributed work environment with in-person team sprints twice yearly in inspiring locations.
• USD 2,000 annual personal learning and development budget.
• Annual compensation reviews, recognition rewards, and holiday leave.
• Maternity and paternity leave, plus a Team Member Assistance Program and Wellness Platform.
• Travel opportunities to meet colleagues worldwide, including Priority Pass and upgrades for long-haul events.

These perks reflect Canonical's commitment to work-life balance, professional growth, and a supportive remote-first culture.

Career Growth

At Canonical, career progression is driven by excellence and impact. With regular reviews, learning budgets, and exposure to high-stakes projects like Ubuntu's enterprise evolution, you'll hone skills in open source leadership, cloud-native development, and global collaboration. Many colleagues advance rapidly in a merit-based environment, tackling challenges in AI, IoT, and cloud that shape the future of software. Join a company that invests in your growth, providing tools, mentorship, and opportunities to lead.

Why Join Canonical

Canonical stands at the intersection of open source innovation and enterprise scale. By publishing Ubuntu, we power the global shift to open platforms for AI, cloud, and IoT. Our remote-first model eliminates commutes, enabling focus on meaningful work with the best talent worldwide. Expect a premium culture of ownership, quality, and excellence—no bureaucracy, just results. As an equal opportunity employer, we champion diversity, fostering inclusive teams that build superior products. This role offers not just a job, but a career shaping technology's forefront.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role fully remote? Yes, it's home-based in the Americas region, with occasional travel for team events.

Q: What tech stack will I use? Primarily Python with Flask/Django, PostgreSQL, and Ubuntu for development and deployment.

Q: How does Canonical support professional development? With a $2,000 annual learning budget, code reviews, and global project exposure.

Q: What's the team structure? Distributed across 75+ countries, collaborating via modern tools and in-person sprints.

Q: Is Canonical profitable? Yes, founder-led and growing, ensuring stability and investment in talent.