From the listing
About the role
Canonical has a large and rapidly growing kernel team that underpins Ubuntu and open source more widely across a very wide range of hardware and use cases. We partner with the biggest kernel contributors, including silicon companies, to ensure their work reaches the widest possible audience with a 10-year enterprise security commitment.
The team is responsible for all supported Ubuntu Linux kernels on all platforms and architectures, from small embedded devices to standard desktop/server systems to large-scale cloud environments, mainframes, and supercomputers.
This is a general track for applications to any team at Canonical that works with the Linux kernel across all seniority levels. We care most about hardware and virtualization enablement, security, reliability, and performance.
What you'll do
- Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team.
- Work closely with silicon, cloud, or hardware manufacturers.
- Diagnose and resolve issues in the kernel.
- Take personal responsibility for a flavour of the Ubuntu Linux kernel.
- Improve tooling and automation for delivery and test of Ubuntu Linux kernels.
- Submit, review, and apply kernel patches.
What they're looking for
- Outstanding academic results from both high school and university.
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path.
- Significant programming experience in C and a solid background with git.
- Broad knowledge of the Linux kernel and kernel subsystems.
- Demonstrated experience with kernel patching and debugging.
- Understanding of Linux kernel upstream processes and release cycle.
- Strong grasp of device drivers, BSPs, and other low-level system engineering.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and oral.
- Ability to travel twice a year for company events up to two weeks each.
- Well-organised, self-starting and able to deliver to fixed schedules.
Nice to have
- Python and Bash scripting.
- Prior experience with Ubuntu, Debian, or Snap packaging.
- Performance engineering and security experience.
From the company page
Canonical benefits
◉ Remote policy · in their words
“Canonical has been a fully distributed organization since its origin in 2004. Our remote-first policy enables us to collaborate with the best in the world in our domain.”
Pulled from their careers page · verified by Atlas
The hot takeJeff's read on Canonical
Canonical is a bit tricky for me to review for a few reasons:
Their Glassdoor reviews have dropped down to 3.1 (March 25, 2026), right at my threshold. I'd want to see this start trending in the correct direction in order to consider them for inclusion again.
I like they they have yearly sprints in cool locations like Cape Town, Madrid, and London.
I like that hire-from-anywhere/work-from-anywhere roles are clearly labeled on the job listings as "worldwide."
I'd like to read more about how they feel about their employees traveling as a digital nomad, or being location-independent in general.
I'd like to see more details about the perks they do or don't offer employees, though I suspect they vary by hiring region.
Please get back to me, because I would like to include you again, but need a few more details to do so.