Staff Software Engineer (Portable Libraries, Rust/C++)

Location: Sydney, Australia; hybrid work with regular collaboration on the Sydney campus

Company

Canva develops a design platform used across web and mobile devices.

What you will do

• Own the portable libraries problem space across iOS, Android, and web.
• Design and build production-grade libraries in Rust and C++ that are fast, safe, and reliable.
• Shape library interfaces, safety models, API ergonomics, and native interoperability across runtimes.
• Contribute hands-on code while influencing the technical direction of the Mobile Platform.
• Communicate designs clearly to frontend and mobile engineers consuming the libraries.
• Build foundations that support hundreds of millions of Canva users across devices.

Requirements

• Production experience building software for both iOS and Android.
• Production Rust experience; knowledge of Rust or C++ for portable libraries.
• Experience with cross-platform architecture, ABI boundaries, memory safety, and foreign-function interfaces.
• Knowledge of native interoperability with iOS, Android, and JavaScript runtimes.
• Experience designing library APIs and understanding React Native runtime consumption.
• Strong technical communication, systems fundamentals, and experience working through ambiguous problems at Staff level.

Nice to have

• Experience migrating a mature mobile product to a new architecture.
• Open-source contributions to React Native, Expo, or the cross-platform mobile ecosystem.
• Mobile CI/CD experience, including release trains and over-the-air updates at scale.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work with flexibility to choose the balance between remote work and campus collaboration.
• Equity packages.
• Inclusive parental leave for parents and carers.
• Annual allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup.
• Flexible leave options.

Hiring process

• Interviews are conducted virtually.
• Technology hiring may include interactive, real-time challenges involving AI tools.
• Applicants can provide pronouns and request reasonable interview adjustments.