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Engineering Manager - Ubuntu Linux Kernel

Remote, Home based - Worldwide·Full-time·Added 2 months ago (last checked 21 Oct)

Canonical

233 open roles

Overview

Work mode
Remote (Home based - Worldwide)
Contract
Full-time
English
Required

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Skills

Requirements

What we're looking for

  • Proven experience as a Senior Software Engineer, Tech Lead, or similar role with a strong desire to transition into a formal management position (no prior direct management experience required).
  • Solid technical background in systems software, C programming, or operating systems concepts. Direct experience with the Linux or other operating system kernels would be highly regarded, but is not essential.
  • Prior experience developing with software packaging formats, with direct Ubuntu/Debian/Snap experience being highly regarded.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers, guide complex technical projects, or drive architectural decisions.
  • Leadership potential and a commitment to skills development and mentorship.
  • Confidence to respectfully speak up, exchange feedback, and share ideas without hesitation.
  • Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills.
  • Ability to travel internationally twice a year for company events up to two weeks long.

Nice to have

  • Experience acting as a scrum master, project lead, or informal mentor for remote teams.
  • Direct experience contributing to or participating in the Linux kernel community.
  • Familiarity with continuous integration (CI) and automated testing frameworks for systems software.

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

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 person
  • Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
  • Annual compensation review
  • Recognition rewards
  • Annual holiday leave
  • Maternity and paternity leave
  • Team Member Assistance Program & Wellness Platform
  • Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
  • Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events

The role

Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution, is searching for highly skilled senior software engineers, tech leads, or team leads who are ready to take the next step in their careers by transitioning into engineering management.

As a Kernel Engineering Manager, you will step into a pivotal leadership role overseeing the engineers who build, maintain, and optimize the Linux kernel that powers millions of systems globally. Our platform, Ubuntu, is in widespread use in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. You will collaborate closely with the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers to deliver a world-class operating system.

We do not require prior direct people management experience for this role. Instead, we are looking for individuals who possess a solid technical foundation, a proven track record of technical leadership or project delivery, and a strong desire to learn how to lead complex, system-level projects and the engineers who build them.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing, making this an exceptional opportunity to grow your career into the core of open-source technology leadership.

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.

What you'll do

  • Transition from individual contribution or technical leadership into full-time people and project management.
  • Lead and mentor a globally distributed team of talented Linux kernel engineers.
  • Manage the delivery, testing, and maintenance of Ubuntu kernels across various platforms (cloud, server, desktop, and IoT).
  • Drive engineering excellence, ensuring code quality, security, and performance standards are met consistently.
  • Develop and execute team strategies, aligning with broader company goals and product roadmaps.
  • Collaborate with silicon vendors, cloud partners, and internal Canonical teams to enable new hardware and features.
  • Own the release cycles and update cadence for your team's kernel portfolios.
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning, feedback, open-source collaboration, and accountability within the team.

Hiring process

6 steps5 interviewsa task to doabout 3 months in all
  1. Application

  2. Written interview

    In your own time

    A written submission tailored to the role presenting your academic and professional accomplishments; you choose format and length, and two domain experts grade it.

  3. Psychometric assessment (GIA)

    Online test · 30–45 min

    A cognitive-ability test measuring aptitude, problem solving and speed of learning, required for all applicants.

  4. Technical assessment

    Not every role

    A domain-specific assessment for some roles, graded by domain experts and discussed in later interviews.

  5. Early stage interviews

    With future colleagues and stakeholders · 3 sessions

    Three interviews with future colleagues and stakeholders focused on technical and domain skills.

  6. Talent interview

    With Talent Science team

    Interview with the Talent Science team including a 10-minute Personality Profile Analysis; compensation is first discussed here.

  7. Late stage interviews

    With potential manager, Hiring Lead and senior stakeholders

    Meet your potential manager, the Hiring Lead and senior stakeholders; management and leadership candidates also meet the CEO.

  8. Offer and onboarding · With a Hiring Lead

  • After application review you get a personal dashboard showing your assessment and interview plan.
  • The written interview is submitted anonymously to reduce bias early on.
  • You may apply to a single job once, or to four different jobs, in any 180-day period.

About Canonical

Canonical is the publisher of Ubuntu, the world's most widely used open-source operating system for cloud, IoT, and enterprise environments. Founded in 2004, the company is a global leader in open-source software, providing secure, supported Ubuntu solutions to enterprises, developers, and device manufacturers. With a distributed workforce spanning over 80 countries, Canonical drives innovation in areas like AI, edge computing, and cloud-native technologies, making it a key player in the open-source ecosystem.

Canonical has a strong presence in Spain, with a significant number of open roles across engineering, product, marketing, and sales. The company is known for its fully remote-first culture, allowing employees to work from anywhere, including Spain. For international professionals, Canonical offers a unique opportunity to contribute to world-class open-source projects, collaborate with a global team, and enjoy flexible work arrangements. The company values autonomy, excellence, and a passion for open-source, making it an attractive employer for those seeking a dynamic, remote-friendly environment.

Industry
Cloud/Ubuntu
Founded
2004
Employees
1,000–5,000
Headquarters
London, UK

Good to know if you are moving

  • Canonical is a remote-first company, allowing employees to work from anywhere, including Spain, with no requirement to relocate to a central office.
  • The company offers a diverse, international work environment with colleagues from over 80 countries, providing a global perspective.
  • Canonical is a major contributor to open-source projects, offering opportunities to work on widely-used technologies like Ubuntu, Kubernetes, and OpenStack.
  • Employees often receive a competitive salary and benefits, including home office setup allowances and professional development opportunities.
  • The company values autonomy and self-motivation, making it ideal for professionals who thrive in a flexible, results-driven culture.

In their own words

About the company & team

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.

Additional information

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.

All open roles at Canonical
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