Junior Linux Kernel Engineer at Canonical

Confirmed open

Develop and test Ubuntu Linux kernels for devices, desktops, servers and clouds in a globally remote early-career role.

Canonical

Location: Home based - Worldwide
Work arrangement: remote
Technologies: Python, Linux

Role overview

Canonical’s kernel team recruits recent graduates and early-career engineers to maintain supported Ubuntu kernels across architectures. The work includes new silicon, embedded platforms, security patches and drivers, with mentoring from senior engineers. Home-based teams operate in every time zone.

Responsibilities

Learn kernel development with senior mentors and coordinate with silicon, cloud and hardware partners.
Diagnose kernel defects reported by customers or found through testing, and prepare patches for review.
Improve tooling and automation for building, testing and delivering Ubuntu kernel variants.
Work with upstream maintainers on security fixes, drivers and support for new platforms.

Qualifications

Programming in C or Rust, familiarity with version control such as Git and understanding of operating-system kernel basics.
Ability to communicate in English and collaborate respectfully in a remote open-source team.
Interest in low-level software and availability for company events twice a year, each lasting up to two weeks.
Helpful experience includes Python or Bash, Ubuntu packaging, kernel patching, device drivers or board-support packages.

Benefits

Canonical lists distributed home-based work with in-person team meetings, a USD 2,000 annual personal learning budget, annual compensation review and recognition awards.
The posting also names annual leave, parental leave, an employee assistance programme and travel-related support for company events. The package can vary by location.

About Canonical

Canonical publishes Ubuntu and develops open-source software for cloud, connected devices and enterprise infrastructure. Its teams work across countries.