Ubuntu Security Engineer

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 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office-based roles. 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.

The Opportunity

Canonical is building a team dedicated to providing security coverage across a wide range of ecosystems and environments, working to make the world a better, safer place. We are hiring an Ubuntu Security Engineer to join an industry-leading security engineering team and help protect the open source community and Ubuntu users from emerging threats. We are looking for candidates across all levels of experience, from Graduate to Senior.

As part of the Ubuntu Security Team, you will work with some of the best and brightest people in technology to monitor, triage, respond to, and document new and existing vulnerabilities in open source software. You will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify issues, prioritize them, and coordinate remediation.

This is an engineering-focused role that may also involve activities such as producing security assessments, building features, conducting code reviews, developing internal tools, engaging with the open source community, and participating in industry initiatives and events.

This role requires international travel at least twice a year, usually for one week. It also requires the ability to be productive in a globally distributed team through self-discipline and self-motivation.

Location

Worldwide, this is a globally remote role

The Role Entails

• Analyzing, fixing, and testing vulnerabilities in open source packages
• Keeping track of vulnerabilities in the Ubuntu ecosystem as they are discovered, researched, and fixed, leveraging internal tools
• Collaborating with other teams in the Ubuntu community and upstream developers, as needed, to exchange or develop vulnerability patches and ensure that Ubuntu includes the most robust security features
• Auditing source code for vulnerabilities
• Building features and tools to help teams strengthen the security of their products and contribute to the overall security of Ubuntu

What We Are Looking For In You

• Thorough understanding of common security vulnerability categories and fixing techniques.
• Familiarity with coordinated disclosure practices.
• Familiarity with open source development tools and methodologies.
• Skilled in one or more of C, Python, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, PHP or JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Excellent logic, problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills.
• Clear and effective communication with the team and Ubuntu community members.
• Experience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability.
• Appreciation of diversity, politeness, and effectiveness in a multi-cultural, multi-national organization.
• Thoughtfulness and self-motivation.
• Result-oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments.

What We Offer Colleagues

• Compensation is shaped by geographical location, experience, and performance, with annual reviews (more often for graduates and associates).
• Performance-driven annual bonus or commission.
• Additional benefits reflecting company values and ideals, balanced for local needs and global fairness.
• 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.

About Canonical (reiteration for emphasis)

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.

Key skills/competency

• Security Engineering
• Vulnerability Analysis
• Open Source Software
• Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
• Python
• C
• Go
• Rust
• Secure Coding
• Bug Triage