--- title: 'Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer - BIOS/Firmware at Canonical' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ubuntu-linux-kernel-engineer-bios-firmware-canonical-apac-rfa4d104k346' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-11' --- # Ubuntu Linux Kernel Engineer - BIOS/Firmware at Canonical - **Company:** Canonical - **Location:** APAC - **Work type:** remote - **Posted:** 2024-06-27 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/canonical/jobs/6076942 ## Job description With a proven track record now spanning decades, Ubuntu is now the go-to Linux distribution for x86/amd64 environments.  To stay at the forefront of consumer choice, Canonical - the company behind Ubuntu Linux - is expanding its investment into PC platform stability, reliability, and performance.  The Canonical Kernel Team - those responsible for the build, maintenance, and distribution of the Linux kernel for Ubuntu - is looking for an individual to take ownership of aspects pertaining to the boot process, BIOS, UEFI, ACPI, and other platform firmware components as they pertain to the Ubuntu Linux kernel. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of ACPI, ideally from the Linux kernel perspective, as well as enough familiarity with BIOS/UEFI to resolve issues as they are reported from PC platform vendors or the community at large.  Prior work experience with a major PC platform firmware vendor or active participation in the Coreboot project would be a significant advantage. ## The role entails - Collaborate regularly and proactively with a globally distributed team - Work closely with our PC platform enablement team and vendors to resolve issues involving BIOS, UEFI, ACPI, or other problems involving boot and configuration of the Linux kernel - Become a primary contributor and maintainer to the Firmware Test Suite (FWTS) - Improve tooling and automation for comprehensive verification of Ubuntu Linux on x86 platforms - Submit, review, and apply kernel patches, working with both internal and external upstream maintainers ## What we are looking for in you - Well-organised and motivated self-starter able to thrive in a remote work environment - Professional manner with colleagues, business partners, and the open-source community - Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal - Significant programming ability in C - Demonstrated software development background involving UEFI and/or ACPI, with in-depth understanding of AML. - Solid background with git - Familiarity with the x86 bootstrap process - Understanding of operating system kernel fundamentals, with a focus on ACPI and UEFI interaction - Ability to travel internationally twice a year for company events of up to two weeks length Additional skills that you might also bring - Python and Bash scripting ability - Prior background with the coreboot project - Ubuntu/Debian/Snap packaging - Experience with Linux kernel patching and debugging - Familiarity with Devicetree, SystemReady, u-boot, or other non-x86 platform bootstrap or configuration mechanisms ## 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.](https://canonical.com/careers/diversity/identity) #LI-remote ## About Canonical ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Canonical publishes Ubuntu and delivers trusted open source software, security, and support to enterprises worldwide. - **Entity Type**: Private (founder-funded, bootstrapped) - **Headquarters**: Not publicly available in provided sources (commonly reported as London, UK) - **Founded**: 2004 - **Founders**: Mark Shuttleworth ## Core Business - Primary industry: Enterprise open source software, cloud infrastructure, and security. - Target customers: B2B – enterprises, cloud providers, developers, and government organizations. - Mission statement: "We amplify the impact of open source" – helping people and organizations tap into the power of open source to develop new products with speed and confidence. ## Products & Services - **Ubuntu**: The world’s most popular Linux distribution for desktops, servers, and IoT. - **Ubuntu Pro**: A single subscription providing security maintenance, compliance features, and support for the entire open source portfolio. - **OpenStack**: Canonical’s distribution of the open source cloud platform for private and hybrid clouds. - **Kubernetes (MicroK8s, Charmed Kubernetes)**: Lightweight and production-grade Kubernetes solutions. - **Landscape**: Systems management and compliance tool for Ubuntu deployments. - **LXD**: System container manager for running full Linux systems in containers. - **Netplan**: Network configuration utility for Linux. - **Vanilla Framework**: Open source CSS framework developed by Canonical’s web and design teams. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: Total funding – not applicable (bootstrapped). Annual revenue – not publicly available. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Founder Mark Shuttleworth is the primary investor. Partners include major cloud providers and hardware vendors (not explicitly listed in provided sources). - **Growth Signals**: Scaled engineering headcount from 600 to 950 engineers (per blog post). Remote-first since inception in 2004. Over 80 nationalities represented. ## Competitive Advantages - **Ubuntu ecosystem**: De facto standard for cloud and developer environments. - **Remote-first culture**: Fully distributed since 2004, attracting global talent. - **Open source leadership**: Deep involvement in communities (OpenStack, Kubernetes, etc.) and strong brand trust. - **End-to-end portfolio**: From OS to applications, with consistent security maintenance for up to 15 years. - **Rigorous hiring**: Manual, human-reviewed process that prioritizes culture fit and potential. ## Strategic Focus - Expand enterprise adoption of Ubuntu Pro and managed open source services. - Maintain leadership in cloud, container, and edge computing. - Strengthen security and compliance offerings for regulated industries. - Continue investing in open source communities and upstream projects. ## Why Work Here - **Remote-first**: Truly distributed company with no central office; team members work from anywhere. - **Culture**: Values of reliability, accessibility, precision, and adroitness. Emphasis on collaboration and open source ethos. - **Small teams, big impact**: Engineering organized into nimble squads (950 engineers across ~50 teams) prioritizing agility and deep expertise. - **Diversity**: Team from over 80 nationalities; equal opportunity employer. - **Career progression**: Focus on impact and potential over rigid experience thresholds; opportunities to shift roles if a better fit is found. - **Perks**: Personal development budget, learning opportunities, and a global, inclusive environment. ## Sources 1. [canonical.com/careers](https://canonical.com/careers) 2. [canonical.com/company](https://canonical.com/company) 3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/canonical](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/canonical) 4. 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