Staff Software Engineer (Mobile Platform)

TL;DR

Staff Software Engineer (Mobile Platform): Building and optimizing portable libraries for iOS, Android, and web using system languages with an accent on cross-platform architecture and native interop. Focus on designing high-performance foundational layers and shaping the technical direction of the mobile platform to support hundreds of millions of users.

Location: Must be based in Melbourne, Australia (Hybrid)

Company

Canva is a global design platform redefining how the world experiences design through its intuitive and powerful creative tools.

What you will do

• Define and build portable libraries that run across iOS, Android, and web runtimes.
• Develop production-grade foundational layers using Rust and C++ to ensure speed, safety, and reliability.
• Collaborate with a technical leadership group of Staff engineers to shape the mobile platform's direction.
• Create detailed design documents and communicate complex system-level architectures to frontend engineers.
• Implement high-performance bindings between system languages and JavaScript runtimes.

Requirements

• Deep production experience building mobile software for both iOS and Android.
• Proven track record of shipping production code in Rust, C++, or other system languages.
• Experience operating at a Staff altitude, managing ambiguous problem spaces and defining solutions.
• Strong knowledge of ABI boundaries, memory safety across language barriers, and FFI ergonomics.
• Must be based in Melbourne, Australia.

Nice to have

• Experience with live migrations of mature mobile products onto new architectures.
• Open-source contributions to React Native, Expo, or the cross-platform mobile ecosystem.
• Experience with mobile CI/CD, release trains, and over-the-air updates at scale.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity packages to ensure employees share in the company's 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 personal recharge and social impact.
• Hybrid work model combining remote flexibility with on-campus collaboration in Melbourne.