About Canonical

Canonical is the company behind Ubuntu, the world's most popular Linux distribution for desktops, servers, and cloud infrastructure. As a pioneer in open source software, Canonical powers everything from personal computing to the largest hyperscale data centers and AI supercomputers. With a fully remote-first culture spanning over 70 countries, Canonical attracts top global talent to innovate in a collaborative, high-impact environment. Our mission is to deliver real value to customers through open source excellence, and our HR practices reflect this commitment to objectivity, science, and inclusivity.

Role Overview

The Talent Scientist role at Canonical is a mid-senior level position within our innovative Talent Science team. This is not a traditional recruiting job; it's a scientific approach to talent selection, leveraging data analytics, psychometrics, and behavioral science to empower hiring leaders. Based remotely in the EMEA region, you'll partner with business stakeholders to build robust, bias-free hiring processes that identify world-class talent for Canonical's global team. Join us to transform how a leading open source company hires, ensuring decisions are data-driven and equitable regardless of location or background.

Key Responsibilities

As a Talent Scientist, your impact will be immediate and measurable:

• Drive talent analytics using SQL, Python, and BI tools to deliver real-time insights, helping hiring teams navigate processes efficiently.
• Conduct in-depth behavioral and competency-based interviews, providing deep insights into candidate motivations and fit.
• Build strong relationships with global stakeholders, monitoring hiring activities to ensure consistency and results.
• Champion data-driven decision-making, validating processes with statistical rigor.
• Enhance candidate experience while considering employer branding in every interaction.
• Review and optimize hiring tools and workflows for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with external vendors to maximize ROI on platforms and assessments.
• Promote diversity and inclusion by designing bias-mitigation strategies and inclusive sourcing.

Qualifications & Requirements

We seek passionate professionals with a scientific mindset for talent:

• Exceptional academic background: Bachelors or Masters in Psychology or related field.
• Proven experience hiring in technology or consulting industries.
• Data-driven expertise, including SQL; Python, advanced stats preferred.
• Strong skills in behavioral interviewing and psychometric assessment interpretation.
• High self-organization for remote effectiveness and occasional travel (2-4 trips/year, up to 2 weeks each).

Nice-to-haves include sourcing expertise, Bayesian inference, ML for predictions, and tools like LinkedIn Talent Insights, Greenhouse, or Superset.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers a premium compensation package tailored to EMEA tech rates, featuring:

• Fully remote work with flexible hours in a supportive global team.
• Competitive salary estimated at €85,000-€140,000 annually, based on experience.
• Comprehensive health, wellness, and professional development benefits.
• Opportunities to contribute to Ubuntu and open source projects with worldwide recognition.
• Generous learning budget, mentorship, and career progression paths.
• Company offsites for team building in inspiring locations.

Career Growth

At Canonical, career trajectories are merit-based and global. As a Talent Scientist, you'll gain exposure to executive leadership, influence company-wide hiring strategy, and develop expertise in cutting-edge HR science. Advance to senior roles, lead initiatives in AI-driven talent prediction, or pivot to broader people operations. Our remote-first model ensures growth without geographical limits, backed by clear promotion frameworks and 1:1 coaching.

Why Join Canonical

Canonical stands at the forefront of open source innovation, with Ubuntu as the foundation for cloud, IoT, and enterprise computing. Our unique hiring model, led by business experts and powered by Talent Science, sets us apart. Work remotely from EMEA while shaping the future of talent acquisition for a company that inspires millions. Embrace a culture of transparency, diversity, and high performance where your scientific contributions directly scale our global impact.

Role FAQs

Is this a remote role?

Yes, fully remote within EMEA, with minimal travel for events.

What tools will I use?

SQL, Python, BI tools, Greenhouse, psychometrics like DISC, and more.

Do I need a Psychology degree?

Yes, Bachelors or Masters in Psychology or equivalent is required.

How does Canonical support diversity?

We prioritize bias-free processes, inclusive sourcing, and measurable D&I outcomes.

What's the interview process like?

Expect behavioral interviews, analytics case studies, and stakeholder discussions, mirroring our scientific approach.