About Canonical

Canonical is the leading provider of open source software and operating systems powering global enterprise and technology markets. Best known for Ubuntu, the world's most popular Linux distribution, Canonical drives innovation in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering, and IoT. Our customers include top public cloud providers, silicon manufacturers, and industry leaders across sectors. As pioneers of global distributed collaboration, we employ over 1200 colleagues across 75+ countries with minimal office-based roles. Teams connect through strategic in-person meetings 2-4 times yearly in inspiring global locations. Founder-led and profitable, Canonical continues to grow while advancing open source excellence.

Role Overview

Canonical seeks a Usability Engineer for our innovative Design Team within the newly formed User Science discipline. This role expands beyond traditional UX research, embedding user needs into end-to-end development processes and company-wide quality standards. As a process pioneer, you'll advocate for user insights, foster collaborative research cultures, and innovate frameworks for scalable impact. Fully remote in the EMEA region, this position suits tinkerers passionate about hacking creative solutions in a highly technical environment. Contribute to Ubuntu and Canonical's open source ecosystem by transforming user data into actionable product improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Collecting and Synthesizing User Data

Develop compelling user insights from diverse sources including A/B tests, usability studies, interviews, surveys, and data analysis. Scientifically analyze qualitative and quantitative data to drive product decisions.

Prototyping for Impact

Build lightweight prototypes, data visualization dashboards, and automation scripts to make research findings accessible and consumable across teams.

Responding to Audience Needs

Deliver calibrated research presentations with precision, adapting depth and style for engineers, product managers, and executives in a technical setting.

Promoting a Data-Informed Culture

Collaborate with process, product, and engineering teams to weave user research into decision-making workflows, enhancing Ubuntu's user-centric development.

Building Research Scalability

Strengthen research operations infrastructure, creating repeatable methodologies, frameworks, and tools for broader accessibility and actionability.

Fostering a Learning Culture

Contribute to User Science evolution through training, resource development, and outreach, promoting organizational learning around user-centered practices.

Qualifications & Requirements

We seek candidates with an exceptional academic track record from high school and university, holding a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Design, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field—or a compelling alternative path. Core expertise includes proficiency in qualitative and quantitative user research: interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, and data analysis. A tinkerer mindset is essential, with passion for technical prototyping, scripting, and research tooling. Demonstrate technical fluency to engage engineering teams, plus a talent for research operations, optimization, and knowledge-sharing frameworks. Impeccable communication skills—warm, precise, and high-quality—are non-negotiable. A robust portfolio showcasing user research, design, or engineering projects that transform insights into action is required.

Nice-to-Have Skills

Experience with Linux, container technologies like LXD, Docker, or Kubernetes, OpenStack, cloud management, Python data frameworks (pandas, seaborn), R, MATLAB, open source contributions, or a passion for aesthetics and visualization.

Benefits & Perks

Canonical offers competitive base pay tailored to your EMEA location, experience, and skills, with potential for annual bonuses and incentives. Enjoy a fully remote, home-based role in a remote-first culture. Benefit from global collaboration with diverse teams, exciting in-person strategy offsites worldwide, and professional growth in a profitable, growing company. Access comprehensive benefits supporting work-life balance, learning, and wellness in our open source-driven environment.

Career Growth

At Canonical, career progression thrives in our distributed model. As User Science evolves, you'll pioneer new methodologies, influence Ubuntu's roadmap, and lead cross-functional initiatives. Opportunities abound for technical deepening, leadership in research ops, and contributions to open source communities. Our founder-led structure ensures direct impact on strategy, with mentorship from world-class experts in Linux, cloud, and AI.

Why Join Canonical

Join a remote-first pioneer shaping the future of open source with Ubuntu at its core. Work on breakthrough technologies powering public clouds, AI, IoT, and enterprise innovation. Thrive in a collaborative, high-trust culture valuing diverse perspectives and bold ideas. With 1200+ global colleagues, experience meaningful connections through worldwide meetups. Canonical's profitability and growth provide stability and upward mobility in the tech landscape.

Role FAQs

Is this role fully remote?

Yes, this Usability Engineer position is home-based anywhere in the EMEA region.

What experience level is required?

We seek proven user research expertise with a strong portfolio; mid-to-senior levels with technical tinkerer skills preferred.

Do I need Linux experience?

It's a nice-to-have, alongside cloud and data analysis knowledge, but core user science skills are paramount.

How does Canonical support professional development?

Through team offsites, training resources, open source contributions, and paths to leadership in User Science.

What makes User Science unique at Canonical?

It integrates user needs into engineering processes, scaling research beyond traditional UX for company-wide impact on Ubuntu.