Sustaining Operations Engineer

Summary

Join Canonical as a globally remote engineer specializing in Linux-based software-defined infrastructure and applications. You will resolve complex customer problems related to Ubuntu, OpenStack, Ceph, and Kubernetes, working across all stack layers. This role requires deep debugging and troubleshooting skills, collaboration with internal teams, and participation in upstream communities. You will be the final escalation point for operational issues, providing workarounds and fixes. The ideal candidate possesses extensive Linux and open-source experience, strong debugging skills, and excellent communication abilities. Canonical offers a competitive compensation package, including a performance-driven bonus, personal learning budget, and various benefits.

Requirements

• Professional experience troubleshooting advanced Linux issues
• Background in Computer Science, STEM or similar
• Exceptionally strong experience with either Linux, LXD, OpenStack, Ceph or Kubernetes
• Strong debugging experience with Python, Go, C or C++ on Linux
• Ability to troubleshoot with gdb, pdb, tcpdump or other tools
• Familiarity with git source code repositories and branches
• An exceptional academic track record from both high school and preferably university
• Willingness to travel up to 4 times a year for internal events

Responsibilities

• Resolve complex customer problems related to Ubuntu, OpenStack, Ceph and/or Kubernetes
• Maintain a close working relationship with Canonical's field, support and product engineering teams
• Participate in upstream communities
• Debug issues, propose workarounds, liaise with Software Engineers on producing a patch
• Demonstrate good judgment in technical methods and techniques
• Prioritize work and manage your time effectively against priorities
• Participate in team activities to improve processes, tools, and documentation
• Maintain clear, technical and concise communications
• Participate in a regular weekend working rotation
• Provide subject matter expertise as the final point of escalation on operational issues
• Work from home and travel internationally up to 10% of work time for team meetings, events and conferences

Preferred Qualifications

• You love technology and working with brilliant people
• You are curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
• You value soft skills and are passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self-motivated
• You have interest in, and experience with most of the following: Ubuntu Linux - kernel or userspace, Kubernetes, OpenStack, Ceph, QEMU/KVM, LXC/LXD, Python, Go, C, Postgresql, Mongo, Debian packaging, distributed systems

Benefits

• 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
• 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 - we’ve been working remotely since 2004!
• 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 from your team and others
• Priority Pass for travel and travel upgrades for long haul company events