Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer - Silicon Enablement

About Canonical and the Role

Ubuntu Linux, the world's most popular Linux distribution, is seeking to expand its adoption by supporting more System On Chip (SoC) platforms natively and optimizing for peak performance. There is significant demand from silicon manufacturers like NVIDIA, Xilinx, MediaTek, and Qualcomm for Ubuntu Linux, and Canonical is growing its silicon enablement teams to meet this challenge.

The Canonical Kernel Team, responsible for building, maintaining, and distributing the Linux kernel for Ubuntu, is looking for individuals with strong software development skills at the hardware level and a passion for maximizing silicon performance.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong aptitude for software engineering at the hardware level. While direct Linux kernel experience is a significant advantage, it's not a strict requirement for candidates with prior experience in other RTOS or bare-metal environments, provided direct hardware experience can be shown.

This role offers work-from-home opportunities worldwide, with openings for various experience levels, from early career professionals to senior industry veterans.

What Your Day Will Look Like

• Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team.
• Work closely with silicon vendor partners to integrate their platform support into the Ubuntu Linux kernel for their product ranges.
• Diagnose and resolve kernel issues reported by partners, customers, the community, and through rigorous internal testing.
• Take responsibility for delivering distinct silicon-optimized variants of the Ubuntu Linux kernel globally.
• Improve tooling and automation for the delivery and testing of Ubuntu Linux kernels.
• Submit, review, and apply kernel patches, engaging with both internal and external upstream maintainers.
• Identify new methods for maximizing performance on partner silicon.

What We Are Looking For In You

• Well-organized and motivated self-starter capable of thriving in a remote work environment.
• Professional conduct with colleagues, business partners, and the open-source community.
• Effective communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Significant programming proficiency in C.
• Strong understanding of device drivers, BSPs, and other hardware-level system engineering aspects.
• Solid background with git.
• Understanding of operating system kernel fundamentals.
• Ability to travel twice a year for company events, up to two weeks in duration.

Additional Skills That You Might Also Bring

• Python and Bash scripting ability.
• Prior experience with major SoC families.
• Ubuntu/Debian/Snap packaging knowledge.
• Demonstrated experience with Linux kernel patching and debugging.
• Solid understanding of performance optimization for silicon platforms.

What We Offer You

Canonical considers geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation globally. Compensation is reviewed annually to recognize outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, a performance-driven annual bonus is offered. Canonical provides team members with additional benefits reflecting its values and ideals, balancing local needs and global fairness.

• Home-based work environment with twice-yearly in-person team sprints.
• 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 Programme.
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues.
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events.

Key skills/competency

• Linux Kernel
• Silicon Enablement
• C Programming
• Device Drivers
• BSP (Board Support Package)
• Operating Systems
• Performance Optimization
• Git
• Embedded Systems
• SoC Platforms