Ubuntu Sales Engineer (Entry-Level)
Canonical · Toronto, ON
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $75,000 / year
- Toronto, ON
Job highlights
- Drive Ubuntu Pro adoption with global enterprises.
- Solve customer problems with open source solutions.
- Deliver technical presentations and demonstrations.
- Collaborate with sales and product teams.
- Travel for events and customer meetings.
About the role
About Canonical
Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1000+ colleagues in 70+ countries and very few roles based in offices. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution. The company is founder led, profitable and growing.Job Overview
We are hiring an Ubuntu Pro Sales Engineer to help global companies embrace the latest and greatest Linux and open source applications. Our team applies expert insights to real-world customer problems, enabling the enterprise adoption of Ubuntu Pro, OpenStack and Canonical Microcloud, Kubernetes and a wide range of associated technology. The people who love this role are software engineers who enjoy customer conversations and solving customer problems during the presales cycle. Ubuntu is used by pretty much every enterprise in the world, in every industry. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the open source technology landscape and develop your business technology insights. You will see first hand in various industries how Linux - and Ubuntu in particular - is shaping innovation and changing the world for the better.This role is particularly suited to candidates with a technical background who are business minded and driven by commercial success. This role is on our global Field Engineering team and will work closely with enterprise sales leads.
Location: Most of our colleagues work from home. We are growing teams in EMEA, Americas and APAC time zones, so can accommodate candidates from almost any country.
What your day will look like
- Collect customer business requirements and advise them on Ubuntu and relevant open source applications
- Identify customer challenges with open source and articulate how Ubuntu Pro could help solve them
- Deliver presentations and demonstrations of Ubuntu Pro to prospective and current clients
- Liaise with product teams to give them feedback on requirements to influence roadmap
- Work collaboratively with your sales team to reach our common targets
- Global travel up to 25% of time for internal and external events and 25% to customer meetings
What we are looking for in you
- Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
- Undergraduate degree in a technical subject or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path
- Confidence to respectfully speak up, exchange feedback, and share ideas without hesitation
- Track record of going above-and-beyond expectations to achieve outstanding results
- Demonstrated personal interest in continuous learning and development
- Practical knowledge of Linux, virtualisation, containers and networking
- Business-minded technology thinker and problem solver
- Knowledge of cloud computing concepts & leaders, such as Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, GCP
- Interest in large-scale enterprise open source - private clouds, machine learning and AI, data and analytics
- Intermediate level Python programming skills
- Passion for technology evidenced by personal projects and initiatives
- The work ethic and confidence to shine alongside motivated colleagues
- Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills
- Experience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred)
- Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
- A dynamic person who loves to jump in new projects and interact with people
- Appreciative of diversity, polite and effective in a multi-cultural, multi-national organisation
- Thoughtfulness and self-motivation
- Result-oriented, with a personal drive to follow up and meet commitments
- Ability to travel internationally, for company events up to two weeks long, and customer or industry meetings
What we offer colleagues
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 recognise 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
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
- Priority Pass, and travel upgrades for long haul company events
About Canonical (Reiteration)
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 its 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.
Key skills/competency
- Ubuntu Sales Engineer
- Linux
- Open Source
- Cloud Computing
- Kubernetes
- Python
- Sales Engineering
- Customer Requirements
- Enterprise Sales
- Technical Presentations
Skills & topics
- Ubuntu Sales Engineer
- Linux
- Open Source
- Sales Engineering
- Cloud Computing
- Kubernetes
- Python
- Enterprise Sales
- Technical Sales
- Entry-Level
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight Linux, Python, and cloud computing skills.
- Showcase passion: Emphasize personal tech projects and continuous learning.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Brush up on Linux, virtualization, and Kubernetes.
- Demonstrate business acumen: Articulate how tech solves business challenges.
- Research Canonical: Understand their open source mission and Ubuntu's impact.
Technical preparation
Master Linux command line and system administration.,Understand virtualization and containerization concepts.,Learn cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, GCP.,Practice Python scripting for automation.
Behavioral questions
Describe a time you learned something new quickly.,How do you handle customer objections?,Share an example of exceeding expectations.,How do you collaborate with a sales team?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the typical career path for an Ubuntu Sales Engineer at Canonical?
- Entry-level Ubuntu Sales Engineers at Canonical can expect to grow into more senior sales engineering roles, potentially specializing in specific technologies like AI, IoT, or cloud infrastructure. With strong performance, opportunities for leadership within the field engineering team or transitions into sales management are also possible. The company's global and distributed nature also allows for diverse career trajectories across different regions and product areas.
- What technical skills are most important for an entry-level Ubuntu Sales Engineer at Canonical?
- For an entry-level Ubuntu Sales Engineer, practical knowledge of Linux (especially Ubuntu/Debian), virtualization, containers, and networking is crucial. Familiarity with cloud computing concepts (AWS, Azure, GCP), Kubernetes, and intermediate Python programming skills are highly valued. Demonstrating a passion for technology through personal projects also significantly strengthens an application.
- How does Canonical support the professional development of its Sales Engineers?
- Canonical offers a personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year to support continuous learning. They also conduct annual compensation reviews and offer recognition rewards. The distributed work environment with in-person team sprints encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing, fostering a culture of ongoing professional growth.
- What is the expected travel for an Ubuntu Sales Engineer at Canonical?
- Ubuntu Sales Engineers can expect to travel up to 25% of their time for internal and external events, and an additional 25% for customer meetings. This can include company events up to two weeks long. This travel is a key aspect of the role, allowing for face-to-face collaboration and client engagement.
- How does Canonical handle compensation for the Ubuntu Sales Engineer role?
- Canonical's compensation for the Ubuntu Sales Engineer role is shaped by geographical location, experience, and performance. They offer annual compensation reviews, and for graduates and associates, reviews can happen more frequently. In addition to base pay, a performance-driven annual bonus or commission is provided, alongside other benefits that reflect company values.
- What is the work environment like at Canonical for a remote Ubuntu Sales Engineer?
- Canonical is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with most colleagues working from home. While roles are largely remote, teams meet two to four times yearly in person in various global locations for strategy and execution alignment. This setup fosters flexibility while ensuring team cohesion and strategic focus.