Linux Kernel Engineer - Ubuntu

Description:

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office-based roles. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.
The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing.
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 - the silicon companies - to ensure that their work reaches the widest possible audience as quickly as possible, with a 10 year enterprise security commitment.
The Canonical Linux Kernel Organization has teams in every time zone. We have opportunities for technical leadership, engineering management, and engineering directorships. 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.
We care most about hardware and virtualization enablement, security, reliability and performance. There are a number of areas where we lead upstream, but for the most part we are interested in ensuring production readiness and performance for the latest patch-sets, rather than subsystem maintenance or evolution.
Kernel Team projects include but are not limited to:
Ubuntu Linux kernel plan, execution, benchmarking and stress testingOptimised kernels for key silicon and cloud partnersConfidential computing and next-generation security primitivesDeveloper platforms such as Raspberry Pi and RISC-VEnabling Ubuntu on a wide range of embedded systemsKernel Livepatch, which delivers critical kernel fixes without rebootingFIPS complianceReal-Time and Low Latency kernel variants and patch-setsVirtualisation or abstraction enginesContainer technologySecurity with AppArmor, SECCOMP, namespaces and moreNetworking - in particular performance and securityStorage - we are particularly interested in Ceph and DRBD
We hire candidates of all experience levels from recent university graduates through seasoned industry experts. We select those who are enthusiastic to work in multiple areas including security mitigation, feature development, patching and test. You must have outstanding academic results, a background in software engineering, be motivated to work in a distributed team and willing to travel globally twice a year for company engineering events.
Location: Working from home, worldwide. We have kernel teams and openings in every time zone and with the notable exception of Taipei, Taiwan, have no offices and therefore no pressure to work from an office.
The role entails
Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team Work closely with external silicon, cloud, or hardware manufacturer delivery teams on bleeding-edge platformsDiagnose and resolve issues in the kernel reported by customers, the community, and discovered by your own rigorous testingTake personal responsibility for the delivery of a flavour of the Ubuntu Linux kernelImprove tooling and automation for delivery and test of Ubuntu Linux kernelsSubmit, review, and apply kernel patches, working with both internal and external upstream maintainers
What we are looking for in you
Significant programming experience in C, with Python, Golang, or other like languages also highly regardedSubstantial experience with operating system kernel internals and concepts, Linux would be highly regarded but not essentialSolid background with gitPrior experience developing with software packaging formats, with direct Ubuntu/Debian/Snap experience being highly regardedUnderstanding of Linux kernel upstream processes and release cycleExperience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred) Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skillsAbility to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks each
Nice-to-have skills
Strong grasp of device drivers, BSP's, and other low level system engineeringPrior experience with Ubuntu/Debian/Snap packagingPerformance engineering and security experienceSolid background in CI/CD and process automationPrior public involvement with an open source project
What we offer colleagues
We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognize outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus or commission. We provide all team members with additional benefits which reflect our values and ideals. We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally.
Distributed work environment with twice-yearly team sprints in personPersonal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per yearAnnual compensation reviewRecognition rewardsAnnual holiday leaveMaternity and paternity leaveTeam Member Assistance Program & Wellness PlatformOpportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleaguesPriority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events
About Canonical
Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open-source projects and the platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, we are changing the world of software. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence; in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Most colleagues at Canonical have worked from home since our inception in 2004. Working here is a step into the future and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.
Canonical is an equal opportunity employer
We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.