Manager, Product Manager

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 1200+ 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.

Canonical’s product management team are technologists who have a passion for delivering products and solutions that help shape market demands while elevating open source software everywhere. This is a general application track for the product management positions at Canonical, across all levels of team leads. As a manager, you will lead a team of product managers, mentoring them to ensure their success while driving alignment with company goals. You will set a clear vision, prioritize work effectively, and ensure the team delivers high-quality products that meet business and user needs. Apply here if you excel at leadership, communication, and technical vision, and believe you can drive product strategy for the business needs of tomorrow. During the interview process we will identify specific software products which would be a good fit for your interests.

We believe that open source is transforming the way that enterprises solve their business needs. Although open source has been around for thirty years, it is only now fundamental to every corner of the software landscape. Going forward we believe open source will have an even bigger impact as it moves into specialised vertical markets. Our goal is to make open source easier, more reliable and more secure for deployment and development. We strive to be the provider of ‘most software to most companies’, starting with Ubuntu but expanding to cover every class of application on every class of compute. To deliver on that ambition, we select product managers for their intellect and strong drive to advance the open source community. Together, we aim to improve open source quality, outreach, and impact. Our product managers set the vision and the direction to ensure teams deliver the right products in the right markets at the right time. They push the boundaries of the technology landscape to identify and deliver products into new and existing market opportunities.

Our product managers are technology professionals with a software engineering background who strive to become business executives and entrepreneurs. We discuss strategy, plan product development, drive engagement, and promote the open source way. We oversee the entire product lifecycle from conception to delivery, blending technical expertise, strategic thinking, analytics, project management skills and effective communication to ensure products meet both user needs and business objectives.

We have open product manager roles across a wide range of product domains, including:

Ubuntu Platform - Our Ubuntu experience on Desktop, Server, Windows (WSL), Multipass, Gaming, Enterprise, & Hardware Enablement

Ubuntu Pro Services - Our key commercial offerings Ubuntu Pro, Compliance, Standards, Security Engineering, and Managed Services on cloud and on prem

IoT - Ubuntu on embedded devices and/or edge servers, device management, and robotics

Cloud - Ubuntu in public and private clouds, promoting automation frameworks, and including technologies such as Kubernetes, MAAS, and LXD

Telco - Open source for Telco's including technologies and standards related to Core Network, RAN/vRAN, SoNIC, DENT, and SmartNICs

Finance - Open source solutions for financial institutions including trading platforms, blockchain technologies, regulatory compliance, and AI-driven analytics

Automotive - Open source solutions for autonomous driving, in-vehicle infotainment, connected vehicles, and compliance with automotive industry standards such as ISO 26262 and ISO 21434

Application Management - Open source solutions in the enterprise including Observability, IAM, App Stores and technologies such Grafana, GitOps, and Juju Charms

If your domain of expertise isn’t listed above, yet you feel it’s relevant to Canonical, then feel free to apply anyway. We will route you to the most suitable team.

Location : These roles are home based in the EMEA time zone.

This role entails

Lead the product development lifecycle, reviewing the priorities and goals for your product

Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as engineering, design, marketing, and sales

Address common challenges across projects, align on priorities, enable informed decisions, and keep business execution on track

Conduct market research, analyse industry trends, and gather customer feedback to identify opportunities

Communicate your product vision, status updates, and key decisions to ensure alignment and manage expectations

Conduct usability testing, analyse user feedback, and iterate on the product to improve the user experience

Collaborate with marketing, sales, and support teams to develop go-to-market strategies, create product documentation, and provide training

Contribute to the success of our sales team in winning new opportunities, reviewing customer feedback and participating in customer meetings

Guide and mentor a team of product managers, helping them grow in their roles and succeed in their projects

Oversee the work of multiple product lines, ensuring consistency in strategy and execution across your team

Facilitate collaboration and resolve conflicts within your team and across other departments

What we are looking for in you

Exceptional academic results at high school and university

Understanding of Linux and the wider open source software community

Understanding of computer architecture, application development, datacenters, cloud or devices

Passion to write about technologies and the tech landscape

A strong work ethic, and personal interests aligned with the open source movement

Curiosity, and the habit of continuous learning

A strong sense of ownership

Problem solving and the ability to innovate

Outstanding communications skills in English, both verbal and written

For more senior positions, product management experience in the software industry

Proven experience in managing and mentoring product managers or cross-functional teams

Ability to manage multiple projects or product lines while maintaining focus on key priorities

Demonstrated leadership in aligning diverse teams and driving consensus around product strategies

Willingness to travel internationally up to 4 times a year for company events up to two weeks long

Additional skills that we value

Familiarity with a particular verticals (e.g. Telco, Finance, Industrial, Automotive)

Familiarity with the technology ecosystem including Silicon, IHV, ISV, ODM/OEMs, cloud service providers and channel

Familiarity with cloud native technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker containers & Snaps

Familiarity with embedded and connected device technology and ecosystems

Experience in managing distributed teams across different time zones

Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and innovation in team settings

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 recognise 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

Employee Assistance Program

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 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.

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.

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