HPC Software Engineer

As an HPC Software Engineer at Canonical, you'll be responsible for writing high-quality Python software, automating key software processes within high-performance computing environments, and collaborating effectively with a globally distributed team on the development and management of HPC clusters. You will also contribute to technical documentation and best practices, solve complex technical issues, and actively participate in the open-source community.

To apply for the HPC Software Engineer position at Canonical, you should have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM or a similar field, along with experience in modern and maintainable Python development. Familiarity with HPC environments, Linux, and cloud technologies is essential, as well as a strong math and science background. Experience with Infiniband, CUDA, or containerization technologies would be a significant advantage.

Canonical fosters a remote-first work environment that promotes collaboration across the globe. As an HPC Software Engineer, you'll engage in twice-yearly in-person team sprints while enjoying the flexibility of working from home. The company values an inclusive culture that encourages continuous learning and professional growth, offering personal development budgets and ample opportunities to connect with colleagues.

While experience operating HPC clusters in production is not a strict requirement, it is highly advantageous for the HPC Software Engineer role at Canonical. Familiarity with technologies such as Slurm, Lustre, and Singularity will greatly benefit your contributions to the team, as these tools are central to our work in high-performance computing.

Canonical offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes an annual performance-driven bonus, a personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year, annual compensation reviews, maternity and paternity leave, and opportunities for travel to meet with team members. Additionally, Canonical recognizes outstanding performance through recognition rewards and provides a distributed work environment that supports work-life balance.

In answering this question, be sure to outline specific projects or tasks where you utilized Python in high-performance computing settings. Discuss any libraries or frameworks you used, such as NumPy or Pandas, and how you integrated them into your work to improve efficiency or performance.

Share your systematic approach to debugging, such as isolating the problem, examining relevant logs, and testing potential solutions. Providing an example of a past experience where you successfully debugged a tough issue can showcase your critical thinking and persistence.

Discuss your experiences contributing to open-source projects, whether through code contributions, documentation, or community involvement. Emphasize the skills you gained and how they have shaped your understanding of collaborative software development.

Talk about your preferred development practices, such as using version control systems, writing comprehensive tests, and adhering to coding standards. Highlighting examples of how you’ve applied these methodologies in previous projects will make your answer more compelling.

Describe the project, the team dynamics, and tools you used to facilitate communication. Emphasizing your use of collaborative platforms like Git or Slack, along with the successful outcomes of the collaboration, can illustrate your adaptability and teamwork skills.

Talk about your approach to continuous learning, such as following industry blogs, attending webinars, or participating in related courses and conferences. Mention any specific topics you're eager to explore further and how they relate to the HPC role at Canonical.

Describe your experience with cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure. Discuss specific strategies you used, such as automation tools or CI/CD pipelines, and quantify the positive impact these strategies had on software deployment processes.

Express your thoughts on emerging trends in HPC, such as advancements in machine learning or quantum computing. Emphasizing your awareness of these trends and their potential implications for HPC at Canonical will demonstrate your industry insight and forward-thinking approach.

Highlight the importance of communication, teamwork, and adaptability in your role. Provide examples where these skills enabled you to successfully collaborate with others, resolve conflicts, or contribute positively to the work environment.

Convey your enthusiasm for Canonical's mission, the impact of open source, and your passion for high-performance computing. Tie your personal values and career goals with the company's culture and projects to create a strong impression.