Ubuntu Engineering Lead

Canonical

Remote

Full Time

Posted April 1, 2026

Not Specified

Remote

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Job Description

Canonical is seeking engineering leaders to oversee the development and maintenance of Ubuntu, focusing on high-quality, performant open source software across various teams. The role involves technical leadership, team development, and contributing to open source projects in a remote, global environment.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and develop engineering teams to ensure high-quality, performant software delivery.
Design, build, and ship software in Rust, Go, and Python, adhering to sound engineering principles.
Plan, estimate, and execute technical projects and roadmaps.
Collaborate with product management to define vision and strategy for Ubuntu.
Conduct architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical assessments.
Debug complex system-level issues and implement robust solutions.
Contribute to upstream and open source projects related to Ubuntu.
Optimize distribution performance, reliability, and security.
Mentor, coach, and provide technical feedback to team members.
Author and improve technical and community documentation.

Requirements

Technical leadership experience and a background in software engineering are necessary prerequisites for this role.
Ability to lead, challenge, and develop strong engineers, positively influence the culture, facilitate technical delivery, and work with your team on strategy and execution.
Designing, building and shipping high quality, performant software in Rust, Go and Python.
Demonstrating sound engineering principles through architecture, development and code reviews.
Taking responsibility for planning, estimation and execution of technical work streams.
Working with product management to define the vision and strategy for Ubuntu.
Setting expectations with other engineering teams, senior management, and external stakeholders.
Offering coaching, mentoring, technical feedback and hands-on career development to team members.
Contributing to upstream and neighboring open source projects.
Optimizing the distribution for performance, reliability, and security.
Debugging complex system-level issues and delivering robust solutions.
Authoring and improving technical and community documentation.
An exceptional academic track record from both high school and university.
An undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path.
Ability to drive and deliver technical work streams going above and beyond expectations.
Lead and coach others to deliver exceptional engineering work.
A demonstrated passion for open source software.
Significant experience with Rust, Go, Python, Flutter or C/C++.
Professional written and spoken English.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Result-oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments.
Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks each time.

Benefits & Perks

Compensation/salary range: annual compensation review, performance-driven annual bonus, recognition rewards

Work schedule: remote roles open in every time zone, twice-yearly team sprints in person, opportunity to travel for company events

Work environment perks: distributed work environment, personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year, annual holiday leave, maternity and paternity leave, Employee Assistance Programme, priority Pass and travel upgrades for long haul company events

Any additional benefits: opportunity to engage with and contribute to the open source community, opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues