Security Software Engineer

About the role

Canonical is seeking exceptional security-focused software engineers to integrate across product teams. These roles are not limited to feature development but also involve vulnerability response, proactive security, and open source community participation. They collaborate closely with other Canonical teams, customers, and partners across the open source ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• 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 open source 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 (CC) certifications
• Work with external partners to develop Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks
• Design and develop hardening automation for Ubuntu
• Stay up to date 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

Requirements

We seek candidates with an exceptional academic track record, a compelling narrative about their alternative path, a track record of going above and beyond expectations, and a thorough understanding of common security vulnerabilities and how to fix them. Familiarity with modern software engineering techniques, open source development tools and methodologies, and experience with one or more of C, C++, Python, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, PHP, or JavaScript/Typescript is essential. Experience as a security champion and driving security within a wider SSDLC process is also highly valued.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about an alternative path
• Clear and effective communication with both the team and Ubuntu community members
• 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

Skills

• One or more of C, C++, Python, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, PHP, or JavaScript/Typescript
• Experience with security certifications and knowledge of FIPS and/or Common Criteria (CC)
• Experience with OVAL (Open Vulnerability Assessment Language)
• Knowledge of cryptographic modules such as OpenSSL and Libgcrypt
• Knowledge of low-level Linux cryptography APIs
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly
• Performance engineering experience

Benefits

• 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
• Priority Pass, and travel upgrades for long haul company events