About Canonical

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, is the leading force in open source innovation for enterprise computing. With Ubuntu as the world's most popular Linux distribution, Canonical powers everything from public clouds to private data centers, enabling secure, reliable deployments at scale. Our mission is to make open source the universal platform for cloud computing, AI, and edge infrastructure. We serve industries including telco, finance, healthcare, and media, delivering solutions like Kubernetes, OpenStack, Ceph, and MLOps platforms. As a remote-first company, Canonical attracts top global talent to push the boundaries of what's possible with open source technology.

Role Overview

The Solution Architecture Manager role at Canonical is a strategic leadership position within our Field Engineering team. This home-based, worldwide opportunity involves managing a team of cloud solutions architects who design and implement Canonical's open source portfolio for customers. From Ubuntu on public clouds like AWS, GCP, and Azure to on-premise solutions like OpenStack, MicroCloud, and Ceph, you'll guide deployments of sophisticated technologies including Kubernetes, Kubeflow, Spark, and PostgreSQL. As a manager, you'll balance hands-on technical contributions with team leadership, presales support, and career development. This role is perfect for exceptional engineers ready to scale their impact through people management in a dynamic, remote environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a distributed team of Field Engineers, from graduates to seniors, focusing on presales and professional services.
• Act as a trusted advisor, solving complex customer problems by promoting Canonical's Ubuntu-based cloud technologies.
• Work remotely within a single major time zone, ensuring seamless collaboration.
• Coach, mentor, and deliver career development feedback to build high-performing engineers.
• Monitor team health indicators and implement disciplined engineering processes for reliable delivery.
• Represent your team technically to stakeholders, partners, and customers during presales and project handovers.
• Develop and evangelize best practices in engineering and organizational culture.
• Plan, track, and drive progress on quarterly goals and customer projects.
• Collaborate as part of Canonical's leadership team to achieve departmental targets.

Qualifications & Requirements

Canonical seeks leaders who are outstanding engineers first. You need deep knowledge of cloud computing concepts and technologies like Kubernetes, OpenStack, AWS, GCP, Azure, and Ceph, paired with practical Linux and networking expertise. Experience in technical presales is essential, as is a passion for jumping into new projects and interacting with customers. Excellent verbal and written English communication skills are required, along with a proven track record of developing people through coaching and mentoring. You must be organized, delivering high-quality results on time, and possess an exceptional academic record from high school and preferably university. Willingness to travel up to 25% for events and customer meetings is necessary. Additional strengths include Python knowledge or second languages like Spanish or French.

Benefits & Perks

Joining Canonical means embracing a remote-first culture with global reach. This Solution Architecture Manager role offers a home-based setup in your time zone, flexibility to balance work and life, and opportunities to travel to world-class tech events. Enjoy competitive compensation, comprehensive health benefits, and professional development resources. Canonical invests in your growth with management training, soft skills programs, and exposure to cutting-edge open source projects. As part of a brilliant, motivated team, you'll contribute to Canonical's ambition of delivering 'most software to most companies' while building a fulfilling career.

Career Growth

Canonical grows its managers from within, training engineers passionate about leadership. In this role, you'll hone skills in team management, technical strategy, and customer engagement, positioning you for broader leadership opportunities. Our engineering managers shape team direction, foster collaboration, and drive innovation across Ubuntu's ecosystem. With rapid expansion into new industries, your impact will scale globally, supported by mentorship from Canonical's world-class leaders.

Why Join Canonical

Canonical is at the forefront of open source transformation in enterprise compute. By joining as Solution Architecture Manager, you'll lead initiatives that make Ubuntu the foundation for secure, reliable cloud deployments worldwide. Our remote-first model, commitment to brilliance, and focus on open source excellence create an unparalleled environment for motivated professionals. Work on technologies shaping AI, edge computing, and hybrid clouds, while growing as a leader in a company that's redefining the tech sector.

Role FAQs

Q: Is this role fully remote? Yes, it's home-based worldwide, managing a team in your time zone with up to 25% travel.

Q: What technologies will I work with? Ubuntu, Kubernetes, OpenStack, Ceph, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubeflow, Spark, PostgreSQL, and more.

Q: Do I need prior management experience? Yes, experience leading, coaching, and mentoring engineers is required.

Q: What's the focus on technical vs. management work? Managers are expected to be outstanding engineers contributing technically, but success hinges on team leadership.

Q: How does Canonical support career development? Through coaching, training, and opportunities to grow into broader leadership roles in open source.