National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Engineering Director, Ubuntu Desktop

Canonical
London
10 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Machine Learning - Engineering Director

Machine Learning - Engineering Director

Director, Artificial Intelligence & Data Ethics

Director of Operations

Associate Director of AI

Product Director

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 + colleagues in 70+ countries and very few roles based in offices. 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 aDirector, Ubuntu Desktop Engineeringto lead our mission to deliver the world's best open source desktop experience and developer platform, for consumers, professionals and developers. This is a director-level position, responsible for the integrated strategy, architecture and roadmap across multiple engineering teams working in Rust, C/C++, Flutter and Golang. We are looking fora technical leader with a deep understanding of Linux graphics technology, system architecture and security capability.We are also looking for a leader who hasa personal interest in user experience, performance engineering, and consumer applicationsacross form factors such as tablets, mobile, the desktop, and remote computing environments like VDI.

We focus on delivering the cleanest, simplest, most reliable out-of-the-box experience for Linux on any laptop or workstation. We make careful choices to select best of breed components for the entire desktop and developer experience, and we invest in packaging and integration. We are also now looking to build new desktop capabilities, with a focus on performance, resource efficiency, media codecs and user experience. We are seeking a director of engineering with outstanding leadership and management qualities, as well as a clear vision for the future of the open source desktop. The nature of the work requires a deep understanding of the existing Linux desktop technology stack and community dynamics across multiple upstream projects. Candidates must have experience of engineering management in a company that ships software products.

This is a complex and challenging role at the center of a fast-moving and competitive environment. The successful candidate will be an accomplished technologist, proven leader, speaker and motivator, with management and organisational skills. We would like to put this opportunity in the hands of someone passionate about the future of open source, developer experiences, and community. We also require someone who will embrace the competitive and professional demands of a highly visible, widely used and mission critical enterprise platform.

Agree strategy for Ubuntu desktop editions, working with community flavors Lead architecture for next-generation desktop services and systems in Rust, C, C++, Flutter and Golang Ensure that performance engineering, security engineering and documentation are deep values across the team Identify significant new open source capabilities and prioritize their inclusion in the desktop Challenge teams to rethink and re-imagine the desktop on a decade-long timeline Coordinate roadmap across Ubuntu and Canonical products with wider engineering leadership Shape the design of the Ubuntu experience in heterogenous environments - with Windows and Mac, on bare metal and cloud Engage with silicon vendors to enable future generations of desktop silicon and hardware

What we are looking for

An exceptional academic track record at both high school and university A degree in software engineering, science, mathematics or related field Passion for desktop and graphics technology evidenced by deep personal investment in cutting edge techniques and capabilities Drive and a track record of excellence in leadership and operations Professional written and spoken English with outstanding presentation skill Deep operational experience with Linux (Ubuntu preferred) Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability  Result-oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments  Thoughtfulness and self-motivation  Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks long

Additional skills we value

Software engineering management and leadership across multiple products and teams Rust, Golang or C/C++ architecture, performance and quality engineering insights Flutter and Dart experience and insights into the Flutter community Deep technical knowledge of graphics hardware and software layers in Linux

What we offer you

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, 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
National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

AI Jobs Skills Radar 2026: Emerging Frameworks, Languages & Tools to Learn Now

As the UK’s AI sector accelerates towards a £1 trillion tech economy, the job landscape is rapidly evolving. Whether you’re an aspiring AI engineer, a machine learning specialist, or a data-driven software developer, staying ahead of the curve means more than just brushing up on Python. You’ll need to master a new generation of frameworks, languages, and tools shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Welcome to the AI Jobs Skills Radar 2026—your definitive guide to the emerging AI tech stack that employers will be looking for in the next 12–24 months. Updated annually for accuracy and relevance, this guide breaks down the top tools, frameworks, platforms, and programming languages powering the UK’s most in-demand AI careers.

How to Find Hidden AI Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like BCS, IET & the Turing Society

When it comes to job hunting in artificial intelligence (AI), most candidates head straight to traditional job boards, LinkedIn, or recruitment agencies. But what if there was a better way to find roles that aren’t advertised publicly? What if you could access hidden job leads, gain inside knowledge, or get referred by people already in the field? That’s where professional bodies and specialist AI communities come in. In this article, we’ll explore how UK-based organisations like BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT), IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology), and the Turing Society can help you uncover AI job opportunities you won’t find elsewhere. We'll show you how to strategically use their directories, special-interest groups (SIGs), and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) events to elevate your career and expand your AI job search in ways most job seekers overlook.

How to Get a Better AI Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Being made redundant or laid off can feel like the rug has been pulled from under you. Whether part of a wider company restructuring, budget cuts, or market shifts in tech, many skilled professionals in the AI industry have recently found themselves unexpectedly jobless. But while redundancy brings immediate financial and emotional stress, it can also be a powerful catalyst for career growth. In the fast-evolving field of artificial intelligence, where new roles and specialisms emerge constantly, bouncing back stronger is not only possible—it’s likely. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step action plan for turning redundancy into your next big opportunity. From managing the shock to targeting better AI jobs, updating your CV, and approaching recruiters the smart way, we’ll help you move from setback to comeback.