Open Source Networking Software Engineer - ToR Switch / SmartNIC / DPU

Software has moved to play a central role in network technology. From outstanding routing implementations like Bird and FRR to overlay networking technology such as OVN/OVS and Cilium, from kernel with SwitchDev to userspace with DPDK, from P4 to OpenFlow, the relationship between network innovation and software continues to deepen. We are building teams to bring the very best open source networking software to market in a well integrated and opinionated stack that brings the latest hyperscaler innovation to end users and enterprise customers.

We work with networking silicon providers to optimize Ubuntu and related applications for their ASICs, boards and appliances. We aim to provide a complete open source stack for data center networking, from bare metal through virtualization, container and serverless, and also to address IoT networking systematically.

You will have a good chance of success if you are an outstanding software engineer, passionate about networking, with a special interest in the interface of hardware ASICs for acceleration and software for innovation and control. We value experience in open switch initiatives such as SoNIC and DENT, and upstream experience with components such as routing, kernel networking, eBPF, DNS, firewalls and load balancers. Our selection process is rigorous and requires work from the candidate as six to eight interviews over a period of months. We look for excellent academic results and a commitment to quality, resilience, documentation, security and performance in your work.

At Canonical you will have the opportunity to engage with the broader open-source community and industry leading partners in developing future-proof networking solutions. We're looking for individuals who can help build a thriving community, contribute to a broad range of technologies, and contribute to the deployment of Ubuntu, Ubuntu Core, Private Clouds, MAAS and Kubernetes across a broad range of devices and use cases.

Location : we have network software engineering roles in APAC (Top-of-Rack switches) and Americas (SmartNIC/DPU) time zones.

What your day will look like

Work with the most advanced operating systems and network application technologies available

Participate upstream and deliver the Ubuntu SoNIC stack

Collaborate with public clouds and network silicon providers

Design and implement the best software-defined networking experience for the data center

Write high-quality, well-designed, fast, secure and well-documented software

Debug issues and produce high-quality fixes

Collaborate proactively with a globally distributed organization

Contribute to technical documentation to make it the best of its kind

Display technical leadership internally, towards our partners, and in the open source communities

Influence open-source projects and communities

Work from home, with global travel twice a year for company events of up to two weeks duration

What we are looking for in you

An exceptional academic track record

Undergraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM, or a compelling narrative about your alternative path

Drive and a track record of going above-and-beyond expectations

Knowledge of networking: architecture, design, and protocols

Understanding of Linux networking, from kernel to user space

Fluency in C/C++ and at least one of Rust, Python or Golang

Professional written and spoken English

Experience with Linux

Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability

Passion, thoughtfulness, and self-motivation

Excellent communication and presentation skills

Result-oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments

Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks each

Additional skills that you might also bring

Familiarity with existing open source networking technologies: SONIC / SAI, kernel (e.g. eBPF, AF_XDP), DPDK, Switchdev, OVN, Open vSwitch.

Familiarity with data path hardware acceleration