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.
The role entails- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
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.
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Skills Required
- Significant programming experience in C, with Python, Golang, or other like languages
- Substantial experience with operating system kernel internals and concepts
- Demonstrated experience managing or leading a team of software engineers
- Ability to coordinate between multiple distinct teams of differing technical focus
- Familiarity with version control practices, ideally with git
- Prior experience developing with software packaging formats, with direct Ubuntu/Debian/Snap experience being highly regarded
- Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills
- Ability to travel internationally twice a year for company events up to two weeks long
Canonical Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Canonical and has not been reviewed or approved by Canonical.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Performance-based bonuses/commissions and annual compensation reviews are part of the package. Feedback suggests variable-pay roles like sales and some senior positions can realize competitive total compensation.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Total time off is portrayed as generous, combining annual leave with local holidays and company-wide shutdowns. Feedback suggests this breadth is attractive for those who value extended breaks.
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Healthcare Strength — Core medical, dental, and vision coverage is available and consistently highlighted in role materials. Feedback suggests coverage quality is solid for a remote-first tech employer.
Canonical Insights
What We Do
We deliver open source to the world faster, more securely and more cost effectively than any other company. We develop Ubuntu, the world’s most popular enterprise Linux from cloud to edge, together with a passionate global community of 200,000 contributors. Ubuntu means 'humanity to others'. We chose it because it embodies the generosity at the heart of open source, the new normal for platforms and innovation. Together with a community of 200,000, we publish an operating system that runs from the tiny connected devices up to the world's biggest mainframes, the platform that everybody uses on the public cloud, and the workstation experience of the world's most productive developers. Secure and reliable, elegant and intuitive, and open for innovation - Ubuntu is the future of open source, which is why its the fastest growing Linux in the world despite already being the most widely deployed.
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