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Usability Engineer - User Science

Canonical
Backend Developer • On-site • Full-time • 📍 Home based - EMEA
📄 View original listing (EN)

Canonical is hiring a Usability Engineer for its Design Team. User Science is an evolving design discipline at Canonical: the newly formed team's mission is to expand beyond traditional UX research models, integrating user needs end-to-end into development processes and quality standards across the company. The role combines scientific analysis of user data, lightweight prototyping, and building research operations infrastructure, and will be based remotely in the EMEA region.

Stack

data scienceDockerKubernetesLinuxPandasPython

Responsibilities

  • ▹Collect and synthesize user data: develop user insights in diverse formats, scientifically analyzing data from A/B tests, usability studies, and other methodologies
  • ▹Prototype for impact: build lightweight prototypes, data visualization dashboards, or automation scripts to enhance broader consumption of research
  • ▹Respond to audience needs: calibrate research presentations with sensitivity and precision in a highly technical environment
  • ▹Promote a data-informed culture: work closely with process, product, and engineering teams to integrate user research into decision-making flows
  • ▹Build research scalability and interoperability: strengthen research ops infrastructure, making key methodologies more accessible, actionable, and repeatable
  • ▹Foster a learning culture: contribute to the evolving definition of User Science through user-centered training, resource development, and outreach

Requirements

  • ▹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 qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, and data analysis
  • ▹Tinkerer mindset: a passion for hacking, exploring, and building creative solutions through technical prototyping, scripting, or research tooling
  • ▹A degree of technical fluency: ability to quickly pick up technical concepts and engage deeply with engineering and process optimization teams
  • ▹A talent for optimization: strong alignment towards building research ops, systematizing best practices, and creating frameworks for knowledge-sharing
  • ▹A robust portfolio showcasing user research, design, or engineering projects demonstrating exploration, optimization, and transforming insights into action

Nice to have

  • ▹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

Soft skills

Impeccable verbal and written communication with warmth and precisionSkillful advocacy and sensitivity to stakeholder needsCommitment to high-quality standardsCuriosity and a collaborative, innovative approach

What we offer

  • ▹Fully remote working environment - remote since 2004
  • ▹Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 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
  • ▹Annual bonuses or sales incentives for certain roles

About the company

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets, publisher of Ubuntu. It is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries, founder-led, profitable and growing, remote-first since 2004, and an equal opportunity employer.

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Engineering, Data Science or similar, or a compelling alternative path