Embedded Linux Field Engineer for Devices/IoT

Remote from
🌐 Anywhere
Annual salary
Undisclosed
Salary information is not provided for this position. Check our Salary Directory to estimate the average compensation for similar roles.
Employment type
Full Time,
Job posted
Apply before
21 Aug 2026
Experience level
Senior
Views / Applies
70 / 2

About Canonical Ltd.

Trusted open source for enterprises

Actively Hiring
Verified job posting
This job post has been manually reviewed for authenticity and compliance.

AI Summary

Canonical is hiring an Embedded Linux Field Engineer to expand its reach in mission-critical industries like Automotive, Medical, and IoT. The role involves engaging customers during presales, gathering requirements, elaborating solutions, and participating in delivery of embedded Linux projects. Ideal candidates have extensive Linux experience, proficiency in distribution packaging, and programming skills in Golang, Python, C, C++, or Rust. This is a unique blend of technical expertise and customer-facing skills, requiring the ability to multitask and communicate effectively. The position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge IoT and embedded technologies while collaborating with a global team.

Role DNA

Job Complexity
Easy Hard
Pace & Pressure
Relaxed Fast-paced
Autonomy Level
Guided Full Ownership
Communication Load
Independent Highly Collaborative
AI Insight The role requires deep embedded Linux knowledge, distribution packaging, multiple programming languages, and customer engagement skills, making it highly challenging. The combination of technical depth and presales responsibilities elevates the difficulty to a 4 out of 5.

Salary Analysis

Median Highly Competitive
$130,000
US Market
$100k – 160k
0 $176k
AI Insight The job listing does not specify a salary, but for a senior Embedded Linux Field Engineer role in the US, the market range is typically $100,000 to $160,000. The estimated median of $130,000 is competitive for a position requiring extensive technical expertise and customer-facing responsibilities.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for the Embedded Linux Field Engineer position at Canonical. With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and over five years of hands-on experience with embedded Linux, including Yocto, Buildroot, and Ubuntu Core, I have a strong foundation in distribution packaging and system debugging. My proficiency in C, Python, and Rust, combined with my experience in presales and customer engagement, aligns perfectly with the demands of this role.

In my previous role at a leading IoT company, I successfully collaborated with clients to design and deploy tailored embedded solutions, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction. I thrive in fast-paced environments and am adept at translating complex technical concepts into clear business value for diverse stakeholders.

I am drawn to Canonical's mission to drive innovation in open source and IoT, and I am confident that my technical skills and passion for customer success would make me a valuable asset to your team. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to Canonical's growth.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Describe your experience with embedded Linux distribution packaging. Which tools have you used and what challenges have you faced?
I have extensive experience with Debian and Ubuntu packaging using tools like dpkg, apt, and snapcraft. In one project, I managed to reduce the package dependency tree by 30% while ensuring compatibility across multiple hardware platforms. Challenges often include handling conflicting dependencies and maintaining security updates across long-term support releases.
How would you handle a situation where a customer has a requirement that conflicts with Canonical's product roadmap?
I would first listen carefully to understand the customer's core need. Then, I would explain our roadmap and explore alternative solutions, such as custom configurations or third-party integrations. If necessary, I would escalate internally to see if we can adjust priorities without compromising our long-term strategy, always aiming for a win-win outcome.
Explain the boot process of an embedded Linux system from power-on to userspace. What common issues do you encounter?
The boot process starts with the bootloader (e.g., U-Boot) loading the kernel, which then initializes drivers and mounts the root filesystem. Common issues include kernel panics due to incompatible drivers, missing firmware, or incorrect device tree blobs. Debugging often involves serial console logs and checking kernel configurations.
You are assigned to a presales engagement for a medical device company. How do you approach gathering technical requirements?
I begin by understanding their application and compliance needs (e.g., FDA regulations). I ask about hardware constraints, real-time requirements, and security expectations. Then, I propose a solution using Ubuntu Core with snap packages for isolation and OTA updates, emphasizing our long-term support and security certifications.
How do you stay updated with the latest trends in embedded Linux and IoT? Provide an example of a recent technology you adopted.
I follow open-source communities like the Yocto Project and Ubuntu's release notes, and attend conferences like Embedded Linux Conference. Recently, I adopted real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT) for a robotics project, which required patching the kernel and adjusting our Yocto BSP. This improved our system's deterministic response times.

Job Description

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 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.

We are hiring an Embedded Linux Field Engineer for Devices/IoT to expand our reach in mission-critical industries such as Automotive, Medical Devices, Industrial Systems, Robotics, and Telco, as well as Consumer Electronics. We are looking for candidates who are accomplished Linux plumbers. If you are someone passionate about Linux, who knows the plumbing of the OS inside and out, who is proficient with distribution packaging, software design, system debugging, and bringing customer’s ideas to life, then please keep on reading – this may be a uniquely exciting opportunity for you.

The server edition of Ubuntu is already very widely used in connected devices and industrial PC’s. Our edition of Ubuntu tailored for IoT, called Ubuntu Core, represents the state of the art in security and resilience for high end appliances and equipment. Our customers include global brands in consumer and industrial electronics as well as automotive and robotics. We continue to expand our range of offerings to bring our security, management and developer experience to the smallest Linux environments and devices. We recently added a real-time Linux capability and are working towards a range of certifications for these offerings. Together, this portfolio is Linux reinvented for optimal reliability, security, developer productivity and footprint.

This career opportunity requires a unique blend of skills. Successful candidates will know Linux well and be proficient coders and scripters. They will have experience of low-level Linux boot, BIOS, EFI, Secure Boot, firmware, OS Distribution packaging and generally speaking embedded software development methodologies. They also enjoy the pace of change and diversity of client engagements with driven and ambitious technology entrepreneurs. Competitive, business-focused technologists at heart, they are also dedicated team players that take pride in team and company wins.

We often say that our field engineers have ‘the hardest job at Canonical’ because customers can ask about any aspect of our solutions and products and expect a thoughtful, well-informed answer. We always want to do the best thing for our partners and customers, regardless of our company interests, and field engineers are the people we trust to ensure that is true.

What your day will look like

  • Engage customers during presales to gather requirements and explain our technology
  • Elaborate solutions to be proposed to prospective clients
  • Participate to the delivery of select projects related to Embedded Linux
  • Convey market requirements to key stakeholders in our organization, and sometimes participate to the development or refining of generic solutions to unlock market potential
  • Be both a customer advocate and a trusted advisor to Canonical

What we are looking for in you

  • Bachelors degree in Computer Science or related technical field
  • Extensive Linux experience – Debian or Ubuntu preferred
  • Distribution / Packaging experience (deb, rpm, …)
  • Solid embedded Linux experience (Yocto, Buildroot…)
  • Fluency in at least one of Golang, Python, C, C++, or Rust
  • Professional written and spoken English in addition to the local language
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Result-oriented, ability to multi-task
  • A personal drive to meet commitments
  • An humble learner and quick study
  • Albeit many projects can be done remotely, the successful candidate will be willing to travel up to 30% of the time for customer meetings, company events, and conferences
  • For positions in Japan and Korea, the successful candidates will also be able to speak and write the local language at a professional level.

Additional skills that you might also bring

  • Experience with customer engagements a plus, but not a requirement

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

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.

#LI-remote

Apply now >

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