Staff Software Engineer - Mobile Platform (Rust)

TL;DR

Staff Software Engineer - Mobile Platform (Rust): Building portable foundational libraries for iOS, Android, and web to enable a hybrid stack with React Native with an accent on system-level performance, memory safety, and cross-platform ergonomics. Focus on designing ABI boundaries, managing foreign function interfaces, and ensuring high-performance code execution across multiple runtimes.

Location: Hybrid, must be based in Sydney, Australia

Company

Canva is a global design platform redefining how the world experiences design through powerful, accessible creative tools.

What you will do

• Define and build portable libraries that run across iOS, Android, and web.
• Develop production-grade foundational layers using Rust and C++ for speed, safety, and reliability.
• Collaborate with other Staff engineers to shape the overall technical direction of the mobile platform.
• Lead via hands-on coding and implementation to solve complex cross-runtime problems.
• Write clear technical design documentation to enable frontend engineers to consume system libraries effectively.
• Operate as an influential individual contributor, setting the engineering standard for the mobile organization.

Requirements

• Deep production experience building software for both iOS and Android platforms.
• Proven track record of shipping production code using Rust.
• Experience operating at a Staff level, managing high ambiguity in problem and solution spaces.
• Fluency in cross-platform architecture, including ABI boundaries, memory safety, and FFI.
• Strong technical communication skills for writing actionable design documents.
• Must be based in Sydney, Australia.

Nice to have

• Production experience evolving a mature mobile product onto a new architecture.
• Contributions to open-source projects such as React Native or Expo.
• Experience with mobile CI/CD, release trains, and over-the-air updates at scale.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity packages to ensure shared success.
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup.
• Flexible leave options to support recharging and personal growth.
• Hybrid work model balancing remote flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration in Sydney.