Canonical - 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 it's the fastest-growing Linux in the world despite already being the most widely deployed.
Every year we select new junior professionals into the Canonical kernel team, to work on the Linux kernel for Ubuntu. If you’ve enjoyed operating systems in your coursework or current role, you are confident in your ability to write high quality C and possibly Rust, and are ready to take the plunge and see how it all works, then this would be a great place to pursue your next career stage. We are a global team working to ship the world's most widely used Linux kernel, across the very latest silicon and cloud, where you can apply and grow your software engineering skills.
The Canonical Kernel Team builds and maintains all supported Ubuntu Linux kernels for a variety of platforms and architectures from small embedded devices to standard desktop/server systems to large-scale cloud environments.
In your first year you will tackle serious initiatives, which include but are not limited to:
Optimized solutions for key Silicon and Cloud partner platforms
Developer platforms such as Raspberry Pi and RISC-V
Enabling Ubuntu on a wide range of embedded systems
Security hardening and exploit mitigation
Third-party driver integration and distribution, such as graphics
Expanded driver support for bleeding-edge PC platforms
We select candidates that are recent university graduates or early career professionals who are enthusiastic to develop kernel-level software in multiple areas including security updates, patching, and testing. The successful candidate will have a background in software engineering, be motivated to work in a distributed team and willing and able to travel globally twice a year for company engineering events.
These are full-time positions available to prospective or recently graduated students.
Responsibilities
What your day will look like:
Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team
Learn from senior mentors to demystify the inner workings of the Linux kernel and how it is distributed
Work closely with external silicon, cloud, or hardware manufacturer delivery teams on bleeding-edge platforms
Diagnose and resolve issues in the kernel reported by customers, the community, and discovered by your own rigorous testing
Take personal responsibility for the delivery of various flavors of the Ubuntu Linux kernel
Improve tooling and automation for delivery and test of Ubuntu Linux kernels
Submit, review, and apply kernel patches, working with both internal and external upstream maintainers
Requirements
What we are looking for in you:
Well-organized and motivated self-starter able to thrive in a remote work environment
Professional manner with colleagues, business partners, and the open-source community
Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal
Programming experience in C and/or Rust
Familiarity with version control practices, ideally with git
Understanding of operating system kernel fundamentals
Ability to travel twice a year for company events of up to two weeks length
Skill:
Additional skills that you might also bring:
Interest and experience in Rust
Python and Bash scripting ability
Prior experience with Ubuntu/Debian/Snap packaging
Demonstrated experience with kernel patching and debugging
Strong grasp of device drivers, BSP’s, and other low level system engineering.