--- title: Early careers at Canonical | Careers description: Start your career in open source with Canonical's early careers program. From software engineers to finance graduates, drive your growth and own your success. url: https://canonical.com/careers/early-careers?format=md --- # Launch your career at the heart of open source One mission, global impact [Discover our roles](https://canonical.com/careers/all) --- ## Why join Canonical? You will be contributing to open source software used by millions. You'll own meaningful work from day one and solve real-world problems, while working alongside exceptional colleagues from all over the world. --- ## Our progression program: Journey to Prof I At Canonical, we believe that as talent is universally distributed, opportunity should be too. Our early careers program is a globally accessible, structured, and scalable pathway that nurtures potential, fosters continuous development, and aligns with our remote-first, open source culture. We call it the "Journey to Prof I." It includes a defined three-tiered progression model (Graduate → Associate → Prof I), embedded feedback, and promotion cycles. On the Journey to Prof I, you’ll experience ownership over your work and have tangible impact from day one. We aim to set you up for long-term career success by empowering you to thrive. The Journey to Prof I is a core part of Canonical's commitment to inclusive, future-focused talent development. --- [*Previous quote*](https://canonical.com/careers/early-careers?format=md) [*Next quote*](https://canonical.com/careers/early-careers?format=md) *“On the Journey to Prof I, I transitioned from the rigid guidelines of university to truly owning my work as a professional engineer.”* **Pedro** Software Engineer I --- ## Leveling framework Growth at Canonical is structured and transparent. Our leveling framework helps you understand where you are and how to get to the next stage. You can join us as a Graduate, if you are a recent undergraduate, or as an Associate, if you are in the early stages of your career or have recently finished a Master's degree. Learn more about [career progression at Canonical ›](https://canonical.com/careers/company-culture/progression) --- ## Impact from Day 1 At Canonical, you will have responsibility from day one, and be empowered to take ownership on live projects working alongside global industry experts. In their first month, Guilherme tackled an Ubuntu upgrade issue relating to RabbitMQ, and helped to improve the upgrade path for users. Guilherme, Associate Software Engineer in Ubuntu Engineering As an Associate, Arwa launched a new company-wide compliance training platform, streamlining how we manage and deliver training globally. Arwa, Talent Experience (HR) Generalist I Florentiana Introduced Terraform testing modules that are quickly becoming a product standard. Florentiana, Associate Software Engineer in Commercial Systems Desmond sourced 15 meetings in one day in the EMEA region, setting a strong example for the global SBDR team on how to optimize input and maximize output. Desmond, Business Development Representative I --- ## We set you up for success [We set you up for success at Canonical](https://www.youtube.com/embed/FrkLlt2tK3Y?rel=0 "Play Video") Onboarding Mentorship Learning Your growth at Canonical is engineered for your success through a structured onboarding journey. This includes an in-person induction, enabling you to make personal connections and understand how we operate across different areas of the company. You'll also be paired with a regional colleague outside of your immediate team during pre-onboarding through our Peer Buddy program. They'll be a dedicated point of contact for practical support, insider tips, and a friendly welcome before you even arrive. --- ## Distributed teams Since our inception, we have operated in a globally distributed environment. Our team members stay connected and informed regardless of country, culture or time zones. Our impactful processes center around real connections and collaboration, focusing on achieving the exceptional. We come together two to four times a year, traveling to exciting locations around the globe to collaborate, brainstorm, learn, and innovate. [Learn more about global collaboration ›](https://canonical.com/careers/company-culture/remote-work) [*Previous slide*](https://canonical.com/careers/early-careers?format=md) [*Next slide*](https://canonical.com/careers/early-careers?format=md) ### Local meetups ### Team member led Resource Groups ### Water Cooler Buddy program Even in a globally distributed, remote-first company, you can still find your local Canonical community. From casual meetups to gatherings on special occasions, local meetups offer a chance to meet with coworkers living in your region and grow your network offline. Connect with people around shared interests, experiences, and goals. Join Canonical Pride, the Women's Resource Group, Sustainable Growth, and more. If there's a community you'd love to see, you can help to create it yourself. Globally distributed work doesn't mean working in a silo. To bridge the gap between our in-person sprints, we host a virtual Water Cooler Buddy program. This initiative brings people together, matching you with peers internationally to help you build meaningful connections. --- ## Build your future at Canonical. [Discover our roles](https://canonical.com/careers/all)