Senior Software Engineer (Backend)

We are hiring a Senior/Staff/Lead Engineer to join the Launchpad team and take the lead in shaping the future of open-source collaboration.

Launchpad is a platform for managing open-source development projects. It includes code hosting and review, bug tracking, package building, translations, and other facilities used by free and open-source software developers.

As a senior or staff-level engineer passionate about Linux, web services, and scalable development platforms, you'll have the opportunity to architect and refine a mature, Python-driven system that supports major projects like Ubuntu. Your work will be instrumental in maintaining business-critical services while driving innovation, whether by expanding package-building capabilities, enhancing developer workflows, or modernizing the web UI.

In this role, you'll empower developers across the world by ensuring that Launchpad remains a well-structured, high-velocity environment for open-source contribution. As part of Canonical's globally distributed team, you'll collaborate with some of the brightest minds in open-source technology, building essential infrastructure that enables the next generation of software development. If optimizing large-scale projects, driving continuous improvement, and supporting developers excites you, this is the perfect opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Location: This is a remote role based in the EMEA region. Candidates will be expected to be located within this region.

• Influencing and driving design, architecture, and feature decisions across distributed teams, to ensure high-impact solutions.
• Crafting exceptional, API-first Python code with unit tests, that delivering robust, well-structured systems that scale.
• Diagnosing and resolving complex technical challenges, implementing high-quality fixes that enhance performance and reliability.
• Mentoring and uplifting fellow engineers, leading code reviews that reinforce best practices and elevate team excellence.
• Enjoying the freedom of remote work while staying globally engaged. Travelling internationally 2 to 4 times a year to collaborate in key internal discussions and industry-leading external events-expanding your network, sharing expertise, and shaping innovation on a global stage.

• You love technology, working with brilliant people, and solving interesting problems
• You are a strategic thinker who thrives on solving complex challenges and driving innovation
• You are curious, adaptable, and articulate with strong leadership and collaboration skills
• You have proven technical excellence in Python development and delivering high-quality, production-ready code
• You have expertise in maintaining and improving large-scale web applications and database management (PostgreSQL a plus)
• You have a deep understanding of integration, infrastructure, and operations in distributed environments
• You have a security-focused mindset, ensuring robust implementation at every stage of development
• You have a familiarity with Ubuntu as a development and deployment platform
• You have a solid grasp of software packaging systems, including Debian/Ubuntu packages
• You have a Bachelor's or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM or similar degree

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.