About this role
Canonical is hiring an Engineering Director to own the development and operations of internal business systems integrations and a full data mesh solution built on leading open-source software, including the configuration of Salesforce, NetSuite, and other internal systems. The Engineering Director will lead the Business Data unit, conceived as three engineering teams, and partner with other engineering and business teams to drive Canonical's data analytics, governance, and reporting capabilities. The ideal candidate has a track record of leading the configuration, development, and integrations of business systems and data engineering/governance solutions, and is committed to high engineering quality and mentoring their direct reports.
Responsibilities include leading the Business Data unit consisting of three engineering teams (Business Systems, Data Lake, Integrations) and collaborating with other engineering and business groups to align strategy and execution. The role involves owning the design, development, and operation of internal business systems integrations and the data mesh, leveraging open-source tools. The Engineering Director will oversee configuration and integration of Salesforce, NetSuite, and other internal systems; ensure compliance, reliability, and a high-quality employee experience using these systems. The position requires guiding the Data Lake team in building a comprehensive data mesh with secure, well-governed data access from many internal and external sources; working with tools such as Trino, Ranger, and Superset and building governance tooling. Leading the Integrations team in designing, developing, and operating Python workflows using Temporal to onboard new data sources and connect systems is also a key responsibility. Additionally, the Engineering Director will sponsor talent development, promote engineering standards, and ensure delivery of business-critical capabilities aligned with Canonical's growth.
Candidates should have a proven track record leading configuration, development, and integrations of business systems (Salesforce, NetSuite) and data engineering/governance solutions. Experience leading multiple engineering teams (three teams) and managing software engineering managers is required, along with strong leadership and people development skills. A commitment to high engineering quality standards and continuous skills development for oneself and direct reports is essential. Hands-on experience with data mesh concepts and governance, and familiarity with open-source data tooling (e.g., Trino, Ranger, Superset) are important qualifications. The candidate should have experience designing, developing, and operating Python-based workflows; familiarity with Temporal or similar orchestration engines is preferred. Strong collaboration with operations and business partners to implement business processes and deliver value is necessary. The ability to thrive in a remote, globally distributed environment (EMEA-based) and align with Canonical's culture is also important.