Usability Engineer - User Science

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is 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.

User Science is an evolving design discipline at Canonical. While we have long incorporated diverse research on user needs into our products, the mission of the newly formed User Science team is to expand beyond traditional models of UX research, integrating user needs end-to-end in development processes and quality standards across the company. This mission requires skillful advocacy as well as organizational learning and change. As process pioneers, we draw insights from others, foster collaborative user research cultures, and constantly innovate with frameworks and standards.

Location: This role will be based remotely in the EMEA region.

The role entails:

• Collecting and synthesizing user data: Developing user insights in diverse formats, scientifically analyzing data from A/B tests, usability studies, and other methodologies to create compelling findings.
• Prototyping for impact: Building lightweight prototypes, data visualization dashboards, or automation scripts to enhance broader consumption of research.
• Responding to audience needs: Calibrating research presentations with sensitivity and precision in a highly technical environment, understanding what level of depth is right for each stakeholder.
• Promoting a data-informed culture: Working closely with process, product, and engineering teams to integrate user research into existing decision-making flows.
• Building research scalability and interoperability: Strengthening research ops infrastructure, making key methodologies more accessible, actionable, and repeatable.
• Fostering a learning culture: Contributing to the evolving definition of User Science through user-centered training, resource development, and outreach.

What we are looking for in you:

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field such as Design, Engineering, Data Science or similar, or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path.
• User research expertise: Proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, and data analysis.
• Tinkerer mindset: A passion for hacking, exploring, and building creative solutions, whether through technical prototyping, scripting, or research tooling.
• A degree of technical fluency: Ability to quickly pick up technical concepts, engage deeply with engineering and process optimization teams, and contribute to cross-functional discussions.
• A talent for optimization: A strong alignment towards building research ops, systematizing best practices, and creating frameworks for broader knowledge-sharing.
• Finely tuned communication skills: Impeccable verbal and written communication abilities, characterized by warmth, precision, and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards.
• Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing a range of user research, design, or engineering projects that show a talent for exploration, optimization, and transforming insights into action.

Nice to have skills:

• Experience with Linux.
• Some conceptual knowledge of container tech (such as LXD, Docker, Kubernetes), OpenStack deployment or operations, or public or private cloud management.
• Some experience with or interest in data analysis frameworks in Python (e.g. pandas, seaborn), R, MATLAB or similar.
• A proven track record of contributing to Open Source projects or communities.
• A passion for aesthetics, visualization, or design.

What we offer you:

• Your base pay will depend on various factors including your geographical location, level of experience, knowledge and skills.
• Fully remote working environment - we've been working remotely since 2004!
• Personal learning and development budget of 2,000 USD per annum.
• Annual compensation review.
• Recognition rewards.
• Annual holiday leave.
• Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues at 'sprints'.
• Priority Pass for travel and travel upgrades for long haul company events.

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm that is 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. Work at Canonical is a step into the future, and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game. Canonical provides a unique window into the world of 21st-century digital business. 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.