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Kernel Build Automation Engineer - Ubuntu Linux

Canonical

IT Helpdesk & Application SupportRemoteNot stated by employerQualification-specificHome based - Europe, the Middle East and AfricaAfrica eligible · wider Europe, Middle East and Africa region34d ago

Opportunity overview

What you should know

We checked this opportunity from Canonical. It is listed as Africa eligible · wider Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

The work location is Home based - Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Employer-stated compensation: Salary not included in the job posting.

Job description

About this role

Ubuntu Linux is one of the most widely used Linux distributions in the world today and one of the top contributing factors to its popularity is its wide availability and ease of installation. Canonical, the publisher of Ubuntu Linux, is seeking a senior software engineer to lead an initiative to take the configuration and build of the Ubuntu Linux kernel to a new level of simplicity and automation to make it even easier to distribute to clients tailored to their specific system needs. We are looking for an industry veteran who has ‘been there, done that’ across a broad range of the software stack and is able to draw on that experience to guide this new effort. You will be expected to take charge of the implementation from concept through delivery and strong leadership skills are a must along with a tenacious commitment to detail and strict adherence to project schedules. While this role does not require previous Linux kernel internals development experience (although that would be highly regarded), a more in-depth grasp of the build system beyond typing ‘make’ on the command line is essential. Advanced git usage and kernel patching experience will also be critical to the role. Location: Home-based in the Europe, Middle East, or Africa regions. What the role entails • Lead the design and implementation of an advanced automated Linux build control system • Work closely with other engineering teams to deploy seamlessly into the Canonical ecosystem • Have no fear in delving into the depths of kbuild, kconfig, and make to determine the optimal solution to issues faced • Be eager to propose innovative solutions to kernel build roadblocks and drive acceptance to upstream What we are looking for in you • Significant programming ability in Python, with strong C skills also highly regarded • Demonstrated experience in patching and configuration of the Linux kernel. A strong working knowledge of kconfig and git will be required. • Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and oral • Solid background with popular open-source projects for creating custom Linux-based distributions such as Yocto or buildroot • Strong grasp of git Nice-to-have skills • Javascript or Golang programming ability • Experience in writing CLI tools, including interactions with REST APIs • Solid background in CI/CD and process automation • Prior experience developing with software packaging formats, with direct Ubuntu/Debian/Sna Job description: Home based - EMEA

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Why you may be eligible

The source lists Africa eligible · wider Europe, Middle East and Africa region as the eligible location. Confirm that you meet any work-authorization, time-zone and experience requirements.

About the employer

Canonical

Canonical publishes Ubuntu and develops open-source technology used across cloud, enterprise, IoT and AI environments.

This opportunity was checked against a direct Canonical careers listing.

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How this listing was checked

Source status
Applicant-tracking source confirmed
Employer or source
Canonical
Source checked
September 8, 2026
Application destination
Employer or official applicant-tracking website
Work setup and location
Remote · Home based - Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Who can apply
Africa eligible · wider Europe, Middle East and Africa region · Confirmed by source
Pay
Not stated by employer
Deadline
Not stated by employer

We check the source and visible requirements, but the employer controls changes and the final hiring decision. Confirm the latest requirements before applying.