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Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is 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. With 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries, Canonical is a founder‑led, profitable, and growing company that embraces globally distributed collaboration and rare in‑person meetings.
Canonical looks for exceptional security‑focused software engineers to be integrated across product teams. While contributing to product engineering, these engineers focus on threat modeling, tabletop exercises, architecture and design reviews, static analysis tools, fuzzing, and more. The role spans product security: feature development, vulnerability response, proactive security, and open‑source community participation.
Each product engineering team holds one or two openings for security‑oriented software engineers. We also develop products driven entirely by security needs, such as AppArmor kernel investments and the Ubuntu Security Guide (USG). As the publisher of Ubuntu, we handle long‑term security response for the operating system and the open‑source ecosystem, requiring fluency in every major programming language and design.
Apply if you are an exceptional security‑focused software engineer, passionate about open source, and excited by Canonical’s products and mission.
This role requires strong self‑discipline, motivation, and the ability to work productively in a globally distributed team. It also requires mandatory international travel at least twice a year, typically for one week.
Location
Worldwide – a globally remote role.
What you’ll do
* Define, implement, and document new security features
* Lead security‑focused initiatives within a product engineering team
* Analyze, fix, and test vulnerabilities in open source software
* Contribute to Ubuntu and upstream open source projects for the community
* Audit and analyze source code for vulnerabilities
* Integrate new tools into our security infrastructure, pipelines, and processes
* Achieve and retain various security certifications
* Extend and enhance Linux cryptographic components to meet country‑specific compliance requirements such as FIPS and Common Criteria (CC) certifications
* Work with external partners to develop Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks
* Design and develop hardening automation for Ubuntu
* Stay up to date with trends and developments in the security industry
* Develop, test, and maintain new software capabilities
* Provide guidance and support to other engineering teams on security best practices
What we are looking for in you
* Exceptional academic track record from high school and university
* Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path
* Track record of going above and beyond expectations
* Thorough understanding of common security vulnerability categories and remediation
* Knowledge of modern software engineering techniques
* Familiarity with open source development tools and methodologies
* Skill in one or more of C, C++, Python, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, PHP, or JavaScript/TypeScript
* Experience as a security champion
* Experience driving security within a wider SSDLC process
* Professional written and spoken English
* Experience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred)
* Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
* Passion, thoughtfulness, and self‑motivation
* Excellent communication and presentation skills
* Results‑oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments
Optional skills we also value
* Clear and effective communication with both the team and Ubuntu community members
* Experience working with the Linux kernel
* Experience with security certifications and knowledge of FIPS and/or Common Criteria (CC)
* Experience with OVAL (Open Vulnerability Assessment Language)
* Knowledge of cryptographic modules such as OpenSSL and Libgcrypt
* Knowledge of low‑level Linux cryptography APIs
* Demonstrated ability to learn quickly
* Performance engineering experience
What we offer you
We consider geographical location, experience, and performance when shaping compensation worldwide. Compensation is reviewed annually (and more often for graduates and associates). In addition to base pay, we offer a performance‑driven annual bonus and a range of benefits that reflect our values and ideals.
* 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
Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the publisher of Ubuntu, one of the most important open source projects and the platform for AI, IoT and the cloud, we are changing the world daily. Canonical has been a remote‑first company since its inception in 2004, recruiting globally and setting high standards for excellence.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Canonical is an equal‑opportunity employer. We foster a workplace free from discrimination and embrace diversity of experience, perspectives, and background. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.
Seniority Level
Entry level
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
Software Development
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