Archives par mot-clé : Jobs

Une belle heure Ubuntu à Outremont vendredi dernier!

Vendredi dernier, comme tous les vendredis, je suis allé au Bistro Araucaria pour l’Heure Ubuntu. Je m’y rends en bicyclette et tant qu’à rester chez moi les vendredi midi je viens au bistro et si des gens me rejoignent, tant mieux 🙂 J’ai eu une belle surprise, plusieurs membre d’Ubuntu QC ainsi que deux nouvelles personnes (dont un voisi du quartier) se sont joint à nous:

[pe2-gallery class= »aligncenter » ] IMG_20110121_125151.jpgIMG_20110121_125140.jpgIMG_20110121_124852.jpgIMG_20110121_130220.jpg[/pe2-gallery]

Nous avons discuté de tout et de rien, entre autres la sortie imminente de LibreOffice, sa compatibilité avec Antidote (Miche a promis de tester!), la nouvelle entreprise en consultation et logiciel libres que Sipherdee démarre bientôt (IdleOne aussi était intéressé de collaboré avec les services que nous offrons), mais surtout, nous avons savouré de délicieux mets chiliens (le Pastel de Choclo reste mon choix préféré) et rencontré les gens qu’on cottoie souvent sur le webchat IRC d’Ubuntu QC 🙂 J’ai vu deux nouveaux visages, Michel et Jack, qui ont bien aimé leur expérience – Jack voulait faire retirer Ubuntu de son laptop car il ne s’en servira pas mais il dit qu’il avait trouvé génial que ça « fermente » et ça « mijote » ainsi, toutes ces discussions animées ! Je crois qu’il va revenir 🙂

Cette heure Ubuntu s’est terminée à 15h30!!!

À vendredi prochain!

 

Canonical jobs: Support analyst based off London, and more

A new position for a support analyst based off London has just been opened at Canonical. It’s not listed on the website yet so I thought I’d give some lead to the Ubuntu Planet readers:

I am sorry this is painfully obvious but if you don’t speak excellent English don’t even think about it.

Let me know if you want to apply to any of those, it’s always best when someone has been referred.

And before anyone asks, yes, there is a referral bonus for such referrals – I guess that covers the million questions we get when we help someone apply.

Also don’t miss all the recent job postings:

  • Service Delivery Manager – posted: December 2008
  • Posting Date: December 2008
    Job Location: Taipei, Taiwan
    Job Summary: Working with key OEM and ODM customers in Taiwan, you will be responsible for the release into manufacturing of Ubuntu and Ubuntu based customized software. You will have experience in the PC industry of launching products for major brands and will be familiar with the engineering life cycles at a …

    more details

  • Integration Engineer – posted: December 2008
  • Posting Date: December 2008
    Job Location: Millbank, London
    Job Summary: The BIS team is responsible for building and supporting the internal IT systems that Canonical uses. This role on the BIS team involves deployment, support and administration of a variety of 3rd party systems, integration of those systems with other Canonical systems and migration of legacy systems.

    more details

  • Ubuntu Senior Certification Engineer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Your home (given appropriate facilities including broadband Internet) in an American or European time zone.
    Job Summary: Hold responsibility for the delivery of manual and automated testing for certification and hardware enablement. Quality Assurance Team Manager

    more details

  • Web Developer BIS – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Home based. Some international travel may be required
    Job Summary: The BIS team is responsible for building and supporting the internal IT systems that Canonical uses. This role on the BIS team is to develop web applications and components to integrate Canonical websites and applications with other key internal and external systems.

    more details

  • Product Manager, Online Services – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Home based with broadband, in an American/European time zone. This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for one week.
    Job Summary: Is your head in the clouds? We have a unique opportunity for a dynamic, technically astute product manager who can demonstrate an understanding of the way web-based services change the desktop experience. We’re looking for someone thinking about the cloud, but with feet firmly planted on a product schedule. The …

    more details

  • Ubuntu Mobile Developer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Your home, as long as you have broadband. North American & European time zones preferred. Some international travel will be required.
    Job Summary: Our goal is to make the best open source Linux Distribution, your job is to assist in solving issues around creating it. You need to be a jack-of-all-trades, able to quickly determine what the actual issue is and how to solve it, whatever “it” might be. Work on a broad …

    more details

  • Ubuntu Mobile/MID QA Tester – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Your home (given appropriate facilities including broadband Internet) in an American or European time zone.
    Job Summary: Execute testing cases and tools for the Ubuntu mobile platform.

    more details

  • Systems Software Engineer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Lexington, MA; USA preferred but applicants welcome for home workers
    Job Summary: Integration of new hardware devices and technologies on mobile internet devices and subnotebooks. This engineer will have a broad scope of responsibilities to customize Ubuntu to work on mobile internet devices, netbooks and other unique hardware designs

    more details

  • Project Administrator – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Home based with broadband, in an American or European time zone. This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for one week.
    Job Summary: The Project Administrator role is a key role in our software development teams. As a part of the technical team, the Project Administrator defines and monitors process and progress metrics. Strong communication and a steadfast commitment to not dropping the ball are required skills for this role, as the successful …

    more details

  • Web Designer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Millbank, London; UK
    Job Summary: The Web Designer will be responsible for the experience our prospective customers and our developer community have via our Canonical, Ubuntu and other web portals. These portals are critical to the success of our business and our products and our Web Designer will be expected to own this experience from …

    more details

  • Lead Concept Designer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Millbank, London; UK
    Job Summary: This is a key role in the Design and Customer Experience team and across the business. Our Lead Concept Designer will be responsible for creating unique, innovative and simply amazing concepts, from customer facing products and the finite detail within, to internal facing projects to ensure the business ‘gets’, buys …

    more details

  • Ubuntu GNOME Desktop Engineer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Your home, as long as you have broadband. Some international travel will be required.
    Job Summary: To maintain the GNOME packages that form the basis of the Ubuntu desktop experience.

    more details

  • Partner Marketing Manager – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: London, UK
    Job Summary: Provide marketing expertise to support and develop business with our growing list of high-profile business partners, particularly major PC suppliers and OEM/ODMs.

    more details

  • Telco Channel Manager – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Europe or USA
    Job Summary: Channel Manager will be responsible for building commercial relationships with top level Telcos and related industry partners

    more details

  • Ubuntu Program Manager – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Preferable London, UK however other candidates home based in American or European time zones may also be considered.
    Job Summary: The PM will be managing the implementation project life cycle: requirement gathering, implementation and testing within time, quality and cost standards. Also managing project risk, as well as planning and delivering complex software integration projects; reporting of project progress and status internally, to customers and stakeholders; managing escalations, changing controls …

    more details

  • QA Engineer – posted: November 2008
  • Posting Date: November 2008
    Job Location: Taipei, Taiwan
    Job Summary: Perform automated and manual testing of custom versions of Ubuntu Desktop. Support local Field Engineering staff with SQA process development/implementation.

    more details

  • Gnome Developer – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: At home with broadband, in an American/European time zone.
    Job Summary: As a member of the Desktop Experience Team, this role will be to design and develop new innovative elements of the Gnome platform. The candidate must have strong coding and debugging skills in C, coupled with in-depth knowledge of X11, OpenGL and GTK+ programming. This role will work closely with …

    more details

  • KDE Developer – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: At home with broadband, in an American/European time zone
    Job Summary: We’re hiring talented engineers to develop a new, innovative desktop experience, in Ubuntu Linux. You will design and implement key elements of the KDE platform, in coordination with your peers in the community . As a member of the Desktop Experience Team, this role will be to design and develop …

    more details

  • Open GL Developer – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: At home with broadband, in an American/European time zone
    Job Summary: As a member of the Desktop Experience Team, the Software Engineer’s role will be to design and develop new innovative elements of the Ubuntu Desktop. The candidate must have strong coding and debugging skills in C/C++, coupled with in-depth knowledge of OpenGL and experience with Linux graphical toolkits. This role …

    more details

  • OEM Channel Manager (Europe) – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: Europe

    Job Summary: Based in Europe the OEM Channel Manager will be responsible for building relationships with top level OEM/ODM and local MNC accounts in focus region. As part of the Business Development Department, the OEM programme counts 6 Channel Managers who seek to create a network of partners across the globe with …

    more details

  • Launchpad Bugs Application Engineer – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: Home-based but prefer time zones from Europe to east coast USA
    Job Summary: We are looking for a software engineer that is passionate about bug tracking in open source projects. The position requires experience in both web and server-side programming. The ideal candidate has strong experience with other bug tracking systems and a desire to tackle the problem of bug management across a …

    more details

  • Field Engineer (China) – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: China – with regular travel engagements
    Job Summary: The application Field Engineer will support deploying Ubuntu and assist in sales opportunities. The continuous improvement and refinement of engineering and technical sales processes is a key aspect in this position. This involves building working relationships within Canonical to enhance the efficiency of collaboration between different teams.

    more details

  • Field Engineer (Taiwan) – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: Home based position in Taiwan, with regular travel engagements
    Job Summary: Field Engineer

    more details

  • Ubuntu Mobile/MID QA Engineer – posted: October 2008
  • Posting Date: October 2008
    Job Location: Your home (given appropriate facilities including broadband Internet) in an American or European time zone
    Job Summary: Develop automated testing tools for the Ubuntu mobile platform.

    more details

  • Kernel Field Engineer – posted: September 2008
  • Posting Date: September 2008
    Job Location: Taiwan
    Job Summary: The Kernel Field Engineer will support the kernel team with hardware enablement in Ubuntu. This is achieved by working with our partners, system builders, ODMs (Original Device Manufacturers) and development teams within Canonical to assess and implement device drivers and other hardware bring up as necessary. This is a highly …

    more details

  • System Administrator in Taiwan – posted: August 2008
  • Posting Date: August 2008
    Job Location: Taiwan
    Job Summary: Part of the systems administration team for Canonical Ltd, with specific responsibility for all on-site systems administration related tasks in Canonical’s Taiwan office.

    more details

  • Ubuntu Translations Coordinator – posted: August 2008
  • Posting Date: August 2008
    Job Location: Your home, as long as you have broadband. Some international travel will be required.
    Job Summary: The role of the Ubuntu Translations Coordinator is to oversee, represent, guide and optimise the processes and workflow of the Ubuntu translations community as well as coordinating the LoCo Teams project. Applicants should have experience of working in a translations community and with computing user groups, be knowledgeable of the …

    more details

  • Salesforce Integration Engineer, BIS Team – posted: July 2008
  • Posting Date: July 2008
    Job Location: At home with broadband. This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for periods of one or two weeks
    Job Summary: The BIS team is responsible for building and supporting the internal IT systems that Canonical uses. This role on the BIS team involves design and implementation of custom Salesforce integrations and add-ons.

    more details

 

Canonical hiring

Canonical is hiring and the positions list is growing by the day. If you’d like to join a place where IRC is a requirement, colleagues are in almost every timezone, and hacking your home electronics is rather common, check the list and also how to apply.

Contact me if you have any questions.

July 2008 postings

  • GNOME Developer, Online Services
  • Job Location: At home with broadband, in an American/European time zone. This job involves international travel three to four times a year, usually for one week.

  • QA Engineer, Online Services
  • Job Location: Home based with broadband. This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for one week.

  • Engineering Manager, Linux Desktop Experience Team
  • Job Location: Millbank Tower, London; UK preferably

  • Web Developer, Business Information Systems
  • Job Location: At home with broadband. This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for periods of one or two weeks.

  • Web Developer, Online Services
  • Job Location: Home based with broadband. This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for one week

  • ISV Relationship Manager
  • Job Location: The role will involve significant travel, most of which will be in the US and Europe. Boston, London or San Francisco are the preferred locations

  • Security Engineer
  • Job Location: Your home, as long as you have broadband. Some international travel will be required.

  • Engineering Manager
  • Job Location: Your home (given appropriate facilities including broadband Internet) in an American or European time zone.

June 2008 postings

May 2008 postings

April 2008 postings

March 2008 postings

February 2008 postings

 

The bug reporting culture: 10 things to avoid, 10 things you can do

As a (relatively) long time Ubuntu user, occasional bug reporter and support analyst, I often deal with bug reporting and I feel your pain about bug reporting, Matt. This happens in many other free software projects, but I think Ubuntu’s popularity gives its problems more exposure, an opportunity to refine the process and maybe inspire others to learn from its mistakes and success.

Generally speaking it’s always nice if you can dedicate a few dozen minutes (around an hour I would say) to familiarize yourself with how bugs are reported in the project you’re participating with. In Ubuntu it’s the Bug Squad team – perhaps even join it. I view Bug Squad members as the little bee-workers that are front-line organizers and helpers in the fight against bugs.

Think about it. An hour or so is not that much to dedicate to learning and understanding how your contributions will (or not) affect Ubuntu. It will also give you tools and guidance to become helpful and efficient in any bug reporting. I am not saying everyone should join! But those of you who don’t join need to at least understand how a bug report is treated on the receiving end.

I’d like to contribute 10 things to avoid and 10 things you can do if you want to increase the chances of getting good results from bug reporting (meaning a fix or solution). Some of them come from the Best Bug Reporting Practices wiki page.

  1. Look for existing bug reports that match your problem. It saves a tremendous amount of time when several people do this. It helps confirming a bug and tying loose ends 🙂 Checking upstream and linking those is very nice too!
  2. When filing a new bug, mention the ID’s of all bugs that sound similar. use « Bug #XXX », this provides an automatic link. Someone can dupe them together later.
  3. Add missing data (including video, YES VIDEO, screen captures, logs) to an existing bug. In some cases more is better.
  4. Provide context. Consider what is unique about your system, and mention it. Is it brand new out of the assembly line ? Did it stay overnight outside at -40C ? Is your music collection that fails to import in Rhythmbox 40000 files big ? Did you just reinstall ?
  5. Itemize the exact steps that result in the issue. Can you reproduce it at will? This is perhaps the single most important thing. If no one can reproduce your bug, chances are no one will be able to fix it. Providing clear steps dramatically helps.
  6. Follow up on your bugs from time to time, even if they seem ignored. Kindly ask for a follow-up if/when appropriate.
  7. Report if the issue goes away or remains when new Ubuntu’s come out.
  8. Once you’ve reported a bug, or if you have a few that are important to you, give them visibility. Go to forums, mailing lists, or post them in your blog. Not everyone reads bug reports or knows an issue they have is being worked on.
  9. Use IRC. Live chatting with developers on #ubuntu-bugs or #ubuntu-devel and asking a few questions while writing your bug report may help getting better information (like which package the bug should belong to).
  10. Get confirmation (or rejection) as soon as possible. Befriend a developer, expose your bugs, use whatever means to have other people confirm or reject your bugs. Be proactive if you want your bug reports to get some « traction ».

Here are my don’ts:

  1. Do not assume your bug report is more important because you’ve put several hours thouroughly detailing it. I know because I have done that. In many cases I see such reports as a documentation available to others, so they don’t repeat my own mistakes.
  2. Don’t be rude. Whatever the frustration, it’s not helpful to the bug’s resolution. I personally find this is the hardest to do 🙂 When in doubt, read again the Ubuntu Code of Conduct, take a few minutes before ranting.
  3. Don’t cite external links with lenghty discussions – unless you summarize them in one or two sentence. – this multiplies exponentially the time required to assess a bug’s status, importance, etc.
  4. Do not assume « they must already know about this » – no one does. Making assumptions only adds delays while clarifications are obtained.
  5. Don’t add « me too » responses, unless you are giving more details that actually help confirming a bug in its early reporting. It wastes everyone’s time when reviewing a bug (not to mention emails generated).
  6. Don’t post bugs with only a brief description of the problem. « XXXX doesn’t work » will get rejected or will expire. A model number for hardware by itself is not enough detail.
  7. Don’t assume others will « just know » how the bug occurs. Sometimes non-technical details (like « the wireless connection always drop when I pickup my wireless phone ») provide important context.
  8. Don’t fire and forget. Abandoned bugs rarely get fixed. If you are not willing / able to subscribe to your own bug reports and provide feedback, additional information, and even ultimately test possible solutions, make it clear in the bug report or don’t file it.
  9. Don’t post bug reports in other languages than english. This may seem obvious but when you install Ubuntu for someone that will be using it in any other language than english, automatic bug reporting may kick in and give the false impression any reports can be filed in another language. Educate your non-English speaking Ubuntu « customers » about this.
  10. Don’t assume every issue is critical. Between fixing a screensaver that crashes Ubuntu (easily worked around) or fixing a RAID issue that affects all server installs, what do you think should get more attention ? Importance is relative. Not everyone’s emergency is someone else’s too.
  11. EXTRA: Don’t ignore guidelines and procedure. If you know a rule, don’t ask for exceptions!

Last but not least, if your bug concerns business needs and is stopping your business or your customer or any commercial activity, consider actually paying a developer or company to look into it. Part of Canonical’s support services includes bug escalation but there are many other ways to « financially speed up » a bug’s resolution. Citing business concerns in Launchpad to speed up a bug’s resolution is not what I mean here, but actually paying someone to go through the community process for you or your company / organization.

If anyone has other tips to contribute, I’d love to hear them. I am far from a bug reporting expert so I’d love to learn any new tricks and tips here 🙂

 

Get paid for your Ubuntu work, from home (or else)

I am kind of surprised none of my colleagues has posted this to Planet Ubuntu before. There have been quite few new positions listed for working at Canonical lately.

Some of them are in Brazil, Canada (MONTREAL!), UK, Russia, India, China or Taiwan with regular travel engagements, some others are from home, remote-work. Management, sales, engineering, development… we have room for everyone 🙂

If you are on LinkedIn and think you have what it takes, contact me and I’ll introduce you – you know being referred from Planet will earn you some extra kharma, eh ? 😀

Take a look…

  1. Technical Pre Sales Engineer
  2. OEM Channel Manager (China)
  3. Product Manager for Mobile Internet Devices
  4. Ubuntu Mobile Engineer
  5. Ubuntu Mobile QA Engineer
  6. Product Manager
  7. Inside Sales Executive
  8. Ubuntu Platform Developer
  9. Senior Application Engineer
  10. Ubuntu Mobile Developer
  11. Ubuntu Server Developer – Virtualisation Specialist
  12. Ubuntu Server Developer
  13. Ubuntu Kernel Developer
  14. Operations Mgr (Montreal)