About this role.
Canonical is hiring a Go (Golang) Software Engineer to work on a new open-source developer experience tool deeply integrated with Ubuntu. The role involves designing and building features that improve developer workflows in immutable distro environments and with remote cloud resources. Candidates should have professional experience with Go, Python, C, or C++, strong Linux system-level knowledge (cgroups, namespaces), and a passion for crafting tools for software engineers. The position is fully remote within APAC time zones and requires international travel twice a year for team sprints. Canonical values intellectual honesty, peer reviews, and clear, maintainable code.
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3/5Autonomy Level
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Cover letter sample
Dear Hiring Team,
I am excited to apply for the Go (Golang) Software Engineer role focused on Developer Tooling and Containers at Canonical. With a strong background in professional software development using Go and C++, combined with hands-on experience with Linux system-level concepts such as cgroups and namespaces, I am well-prepared to contribute to building a revolutionary developer experience tool.
I have a deep passion for creating tools that simplify and accelerate developer workflows, especially in containerized and immutable environments. My experience includes designing robust, high-quality code, participating in peer reviews, and collaborating with distributed teams, which aligns perfectly with Canonical's values of intellectual honesty and thoughtful engineering.
I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work on an open-source tool integrated with Ubuntu and modern IDEs, and to help free developers from tedious environment setup. I am comfortable working remotely in APAC time zones and eager to join team sprints to align on strategy and execution.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to Canonical's mission of making Ubuntu the greatest platform for software engineers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample interview questions
Cgroups limit and account for resource usage (CPU, memory, I/O) of processes, while namespaces isolate process views of the system (PID, network, mount, UTS, etc.). In a Go project, I might use the syscall package to create a new PID namespace for a child process, set cgroup limits via the cgroups filesystem, and then execute a containerized command. This ensures the process has limited resources and a separate view of the system.
While working on a container runtime, I encountered a bug where processes inside a container were blocked from binding to a network port. I used strace to trace system calls and discovered the issue was due to missing network capabilities in the user namespace. I fixed it by properly setting up UID/GID mappings and granting the necessary capabilities to the process before entering the container.
I would focus on understanding the differences between distributions, especially how packages are managed and where files are typically located. For immutable distros, I would avoid relying on writeable system directories and instead use user-space tools, containerized runtimes, or overlay mounts. I would also build with portability in mind, using Go's static linking and avoiding platform-specific dependencies where possible.
I would use goroutines and channels to manage concurrent downloads, with a worker pool to limit parallelism and avoid overwhelming the network. Each goroutine would handle one image layer, writing to a buffer, and results would be collected via a channel. Error handling would be done with context cancellation and timeouts to ensure the operation remains robust.
I prioritize clear, written communication and use tools like GitHub for asynchronous code reviews. I make an effort to provide constructive feedback, ask clarifying questions, and document decisions in code comments or issue trackers. Regularly scheduled video calls and shared documentation also help keep the team aligned, and I make the most of in-person sprints to build stronger relationships.
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.
We are hiring a Go (Golang) Software Engineer, Developer Tooling and Containers to work on a new open-source developer experience tool. We are rethinking typical developer workflows, trying to preserve what people love about traditional Linux while enabling people to work better in immutable distro environments, as well as with remote cloud resources. You’ll join to work on a product that is deeply and securely integrated with Ubuntu desktop, modern IDEs, and SDKs from publishers like NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and others. Our ultimate goal is to free developers from the hours of tedious environment setup across multiple industry domains such as Robotics, MLOps, IoT. Come help us to make Ubuntu the greatest platform for software engineers!
The role implies a deep interest in crafting tools for software engineers. It requires taste in experience design, and will benefit from experience with professional Linux based software development, Linux system-level fundamentals and containers. As a team, we value intellectual honesty in decision-making, peer reviews, and writing clear and maintainable code. While we are building a full team including senior, junior and entry-level roles, the senior roles require a strong understanding of containers and the kernel semantics and capabilities that underpin them.
Location: This team is based in the APAC region, these remote roles can be filled from anywhere in APAC time zones.
The role entails
- Design the user experience of new capabilities in the tool
- Write high-quality code to create new features
- Obsess with correctness and robustness of your work for diverse use cases
- Go the extra mile in making sure the software you create addresses a well-defined problem
- Think carefully through implementation strategy from the perspective of performance, quality and security
- Work with teams both inside and outside of Canonical
What we are looking for in you
- You have professional software development experience using Go, Python, C, or C++
- You know Linux system-level fundamentals, for example, cgroups and namespaces
In addition:
- You are curious, thoughtful, articulate, and accountable
- 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
- Professional written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills
- Ability to travel internationally twice a year for company events up to two weeks long
Nice-to-have skills
- Experience with LXC/LXD
- Experience with AI/ML and/or CUDA/OpenVINO
- Knowledge of system and language package managers internals
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 recognize 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
- 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
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.
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