Overview

Canonical is a leading provider of open-source software and operating systems for global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. We are a founder-led, profitable and growing company with 1200+ colleagues in more than 80 countries and very few office-based roles. Roles are fully remote and distributed, with in-person team alignments two to four times yearly in interesting locations around the world.

We are hiring Golang engineers of all levels of seniority, for all relevant teams at Canonical. Apply here if you are an exceptional software engineer who prefers to work in Go. After the first round of interviews we will match you with the best fit product team based on your interests. Canonical prefers Golang for software where performance and security are primary considerations. We also work with Python, C, C++, and are starting to invest in Rust. For front-end development we prefer React and Flutter.

Golang is an essential language for our engineering teams, which build the systems that deliver Ubuntu to the world. From software distribution systems to build/test tooling across architectures, we rely on Golang for its concurrency and ecosystem. Canonical offerings including Juju, Livepatch, LXD, MAAS, Microk8s, Snapd, Ubuntu Core, and Ubuntu Pro include Golang components. We aim to ensure Ubuntu is the best platform for Golang development, with easy access to broad tooling and capabilities that support cutting-edge open source and enterprise development.

Join us in delivering innovative open-source solutions to individuals and enterprises worldwide. We expect high engineering standards and strong motivation to deliver in a fully remote, distributed environment. These roles require extensive personal experience with Linux; more versions of Linux are better.

Location: we have open roles for Golang engineers in every time zone.

The role entails

• Design and implement well-tested and documented software in Go
• Debug and fix issues encountered by users
• Participate in engineering process through code and architectural reviews
• Collaborate with community and colleagues on technical specifications
• Seek improvements to engineering and operations practices
• In some cases, deploy and operate services developed by the team
• Contribute to the success of your product through technical advocacy

What we are looking for in you

• An exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
• Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path
• Drive and a track record of going above-and-beyond expectations
• Well-organized, self-starting and able to deliver to schedule
• Professional manner interacting with colleagues, partners, and community
• Experience designing and writing high-quality Golang software on Linux
• Experience with and passion for Linux at the system level
• For more senior roles, experience building, deploying, and operating distributed systems and APIs
• Professional written and spoken English
• Experience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
• Passion, thoughtfulness, and self-motivation
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Result-oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments
• Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks each

Nice-to-have skills

• Experience developing for Ubuntu Linux
• Experience with Juju, LXD, Microk8s, Snapd, Ubuntu Core, Ubuntu Pro
• Performance engineering and security experience

What we offer

• Distributed work environment with twice-yearly team sprints in person
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
• Annual compensation review
• Recognition rewards
• Annual holiday leave
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
• Travel perks 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, we are changing the world of software. We recruit on a global basis and set high standards for people joining the company. Most colleagues 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, and learn new skills.

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.