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Open Source Software Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL

... developer with a passion for automating infrastructure as code. Applicants should be passionate about the future of the software defined datacenter, distributed systems, and open source. Canonical is ...

Software Engineer - Cloud Images

Chicago, IL ยท Remote

$61.75 - $80.25/hr

... etc.), devops automation, open source projects, APIs, Linux systems administration, Python ... software development on Linux What we offer colleagues We consider geographical location ...

Senior Software Engineer - MAAS

Chicago, IL

$126K - $166K/yr

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global ... AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and ...

Be it core Java, full-stack Java, Web/UI designers, Big Data or Cloud or Mobility developers ... using various Open Source software packages (e.g. which are infectious, which are not ...

... DevOps expertise. Our programming languages has been Java, Python, and C# ... We are big fans on building products using Open Source packages and Inner Source Components. We are ...

... DevOps expertise. Our programming languages has been Java, Python, and C# ... We are big fans on building products using Open Source packages and Inner Source Components. We are ...

Description: -We are looking for a software developer to help us design, develop and support our ... open source projects run. -So developers who are used to using Github and contributing to open ...

Senior UI Developer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$61.75 - $80/hr

As a Software Engineer, you'll work on everything from customer-facing web and mobile applications using cutting-edge open source frameworks, to highly-available RESTful services, to back-end C# and ...

Java Fullstack Developer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$54 - $69.75/hr

You'll work on everything from customer-facing web and mobile applications using modern open-source ... the software development lifecycle. * Apply strategic and analytical thinking to solve complex ...

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Open Source Software Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$49.4K

$115.2K

$171K

How much do open source software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for open source software developer in Chicago, IL is $115,217.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,700.00 and $133,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Open Source Software Developers?

Open Source Software Developers are programmers who create, maintain, or contribute to software projects whose source code is made freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. They often collaborate with a global community of developers and may work on a voluntary basis or be employed by organizations that support open source initiatives. Their work involves writing code, fixing bugs, reviewing contributions, and helping manage project documentation. Open source developers play a key role in advancing technology by making software accessible and fostering innovation through community collaboration.

What is the difference between Open Source Software Developer vs Software Engineer?

AspectOpen Source Software DeveloperSoftware Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires programming skills, familiarity with open source licenses, and sometimes certifications like Linux Foundation certificationsRequires a degree in computer science or related field; certifications like Microsoft Certified or AWS certifications are common
Work EnvironmentOften collaborates in open source communities, contributes to public repositories, and works remotelyWorks in corporate or enterprise settings, often in teams within organizations
Industry UsageUsed across tech, non-profit, and open source communities; focuses on public projectsEmployed in various industries including tech, finance, healthcare, and more for product development

While both roles involve software development, Open Source Software Developers focus on collaborative, community-driven projects often in open environments, whereas Software Engineers typically work within organizations on proprietary or internal systems. The roles overlap in skills but differ in scope and work setting.

How do Open Source Software Developers typically collaborate with contributors from around the world?

Open Source Software Developers often work with a global community of contributors using online collaboration tools such as GitHub, mailing lists, and chat platforms like Slack or Discord. Communication is primarily asynchronous, requiring clear documentation and code review practices to ensure smooth project progress. Developers regularly participate in discussions, review pull requests, and help onboard new contributors, making strong written communication skills essential. This collaborative environment fosters learning and innovation, but also requires flexibility and patience to manage different time zones and cultural perspectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Open Source Software Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Open Source Software Developer, you need strong programming skills, knowledge of version control systems like Git, and familiarity with open source licensing, typically supported by a relevant degree or coding experience. Proficiency with collaborative development platforms such as GitHub or GitLab and understanding of continuous integration tools are commonly required. Excellent communication, self-motivation, and the ability to work effectively in distributed teams set outstanding contributors apart. These skills are crucial for efficiently building, maintaining, and contributing to widely used open source projects in a collaborative, global environment.
Software Engineer - OpenStack

Software Engineer - OpenStack

Canonical

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site, Remote

Full-time

PTO

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

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

We are hiring a Software Engineer for our OpenStack Engineering team. This is an exciting opportunity for a software engineer passionate about open source software, Linux, and OpenStack. Come build a rewarding, meaningful career working with the best and brightest people in technology at Canonical, a growing international software company.

As a software engineer on the OpenStack Engineering team, you'll be building Charmed OpenStack and Ceph, a suite of open source Python based charms for deploying and managing OpenStack and Ceph. Your work will bring cloud platform technologies to a wide range of users and computing environments, from desktops to bare metal servers. This role requires a python software developer with a passion for automating infrastructure as code.

Applicants should be passionate about the future of the software defined datacenter, distributed systems, and open source. Canonical is a globally distributed team of engineers who share that passion, and you will need to work well in that context. Engineers who thrive at Canonical are mindful of the dynamics of the open source ecosystem, and equally aware of the needs of large, innovative organizations.

This job involves international travel several times a year, usually for one week at a time.

What you'll do
  • Collaborate proactively with a distributed team
  • Write high quality code to create new features
  • Debug issues and produce high quality code to fix them
  • Review code produced by other engineers
  • Discuss ideas and collaborate on finding good solutions
  • Ensure the success of OpenStack and Ceph on multiple architectures
  • Work from home with global travel 2 to 4 weeks for internal and external events
Who you are
  • You love technology and working with brilliant people
  • You are curious, flexible, articulate, and accountable
  • You value soft skills and are passionate, enterprising, thoughtful, and self-motivated
  • You have a Bachelor's or equivalent in Computer Science, STEM or similar degree
  • You have experience with Python
  • You have interest and experience with two or more of the following:Ubuntu Linux - kernel or userspace, Kubernetes, OpenStack, Ceph, AI/ML, QEMU/KVM, LXC/LXD, Python, Go, C, Postgresql, Mongo, Debian packaging, scalable web services
  • You have experience with non-x86 architectures, including s390, arm64, power and others
  • You have experience with OpenStack, OVN, Openvswitch and other related cloud technologies
What Canonical Offers
  • Learning and Development
  • Annual Compensation Review
  • Recognition Rewards
  • Annual Leave
  • Priority Pass for travel
  • Flexible working option

Canonical believes a diverse workforce enhances our ability to deliver world class software and services which meet the world's computing needs. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm 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 of software. 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. Most colleagues at Canonical have worked from home since our inception in 2004.โ€‹ Working here is a step into the future and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.

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.

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