MAAS Data Center Infrastructure Engineer

📋 Job Overview

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1100+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office based roles. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder led, profitable and growing.

Location: This is an office based role. We expect the suitable candidate to be based in Toronto as you will be required to work on-site at our lab.

🏢 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 on a daily basis. 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. Canonical has been a remote-first company since its 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.

🎯 The Role

We are hiring a Data Center Infrastructure Engineer to build and maintain MAAS test labs. As a Data Center Infrastructure Engineer in Canonical, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of our lab in the Toronto area, which we use for Ubuntu server certification of US based silicon and server designs. You'll use software that deploys and configures servers and network switches to operate the data centre and update its configuration, make sure the hardware and cabling is perfectly organised and inventoried, handle hardware deliveries and their onboarding and commissioning. You will work with a mixture of hardware: cutting edge new silicon that Kernel Team and Partner Engineering teams work on to make them run Linux extremely well, as well as established hardware to make sure new versions of Ubuntu are smooth and fast. We run our data centres using software-driven operations, and you need to be familiar with Python software development to be effective in this role. If you love hacking in your home lab, have good Python skills, and are curious about data centre hardware, you will love this opportunity.

✅ Key Responsibilities

• Operate a fully automated server lab with the latest server and network silicon from leading vendors, remotely and while on-site, making sure it remains available to other teams.
• Maintain accurate inventory and layout of the hardware in the data centre.
• Receive, install and configure new hardware.
• Actively exercise MAAS functionality by using integrations with testing and scheduling software such as Testflinger. Report issues and assist in troubleshooting.
• Use your Python development skills to enhance software-driven operations of the data centre.
• Improve and extend hardware and network monitoring through automation.
• Collaborate with other MAAS engineers, other data centre hardware specialists, teams responsible for certifying hardware for Ubuntu, kernel engineers and other teams who use the hardware lab.

📌 Required Qualifications

• STEM Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Computer Science or Software Engineering
• Excellent organisational skills
• Attention to detail
• Data centre experience
• Linux Administration experience
• Python programming experience
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English
• Ability to work with a globally distributed team of passionate engineers
• An exceptional academic track record from both high school and preferably university
• Willingness to travel up to 4 times a year for internal events

⭐ Desirable Experience

• Troubleshooting skills
• Systematic approach to testing
• Love for performance engineering

🎁 Benefits

• 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
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
• Priority Pass, and travel upgrades for long haul company events