Security Software Engineer

Canonical is a leading provider of open‑source software and operating systems for global enterprises. Our flagship platform, Ubuntu, powers public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT initiatives for industry leaders in cloud, silicon and many other sectors. With 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries, we embrace a distributed collaboration model with minimal office presence, meeting two to four times a year at global locations. Founded on principles of profit, growth, and open‑source excellence, Canonical seeks exceptional security‑focused software engineers to join cross‑product teams. These engineers will challenge teams to adopt state‑of‑the‑art security practices such as threat‑modeling, architecture reviews, static analysis, fuzzing, and more. Our security roles cover feature development, vulnerability response, proactive security, and open‑source community participation. Engineers collaborate closely with internal product teams, customers, and partners throughout the open‑source ecosystem. We reserve one or two security‑oriented positions on each product engineering team and develop products driven entirely by security needs—such as AppArmor kernel investments and the Ubuntu Security Guide. With upstreams numbering in the tens of thousands, our engineers must be fluent in multiple programming languages and adept at creating tools that accelerate secure, scalable releases. Apply if you are an exceptional security‑focused software engineer, passionate about open Source, and excited by Canonical’s mission. This role requires strong self‑discipline in a globally distributed team and mandates international travel at least twice a year for one‑week visits. Location: Worldwide, this is a globally remote role. What you’ll do Define, implement, and document new security features. Lead security‑focused initiatives within a product engineering team. Analyze, fix, and test vulnerabilities in open‑source software. Contribute to Ubuntu and upstream projects to benefit the community. Audit and analyze source code for vulnerabilities. Integrate new tools into our security infrastructure, pipelines, and processes. Achieve and retain various security certifications. Extend and enhance Linux cryptographic components to meet country‑specific compliance requirements, such as FIPS and Common Criteria certifications. Work with external partners to develop Center for Internet Security benchmarks. Design and develop hardening automation for Ubuntu. Stay current with trends and developments in the security industry. Develop, test, and maintain new software capabilities. Provide guidance and support to other engineering teams on security best practices. What we are looking for in you An exceptional academic track record from high school and university. Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path. A track record of exceeding expectations. Deep understanding of common security vulnerability categories and remediation. Knowledge of modern software engineering techniques. Familiarity with open‑source development tools and methodologies. Proficiency in at least one of C, C++, Python, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, PHP, or JavaScript/TypeScript. Experience as a security champion. Experience driving security within a broader SSDLC process. Professional written and spoken English. Experience with Linux (Debian or Ubuntu preferred). Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability. Passion, thoughtfulness, and self‑motivation. Excellent communication and presentation skills. Results‑oriented with a personal drive to meet commitments. Optional skills we also value Clear and effective communication with the team and Ubuntu community. Experience working with the Linux kernel. Experience with security certifications and knowledge of FIPS and Common Criteria. Experience with Open Vulnerability Assessment Language (OVAL). Knowledge of cryptographic modules such as OpenSSL and Libgcrypt. Knowledge of low‑level Linux cryptography APIs. Demonstrated ability to learn quickly. Performance engineering experience. What we offer you Distributed work environment with twice‑yearly in‑person team sprints. Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year. Annual compensation review with performance‑driven bonus. Recognition rewards. Annual holiday leave, maternity, and paternity leave. Employee Assistance Programme. Opportunities 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 shift to open source. As the publisher of Ubuntu—the platform for AI, IoT, and cloud—the company is changing the world daily. We recruit globally, maintain a remote‑first culture since 2004, and set a high standard for excellence, challenging you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game. Equal Opportunity Employer Canonical is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background creates a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration. #J-18808-Ljbffr