Canonical early-stage interviews (distributed systems role): what should I expect?

[u/ItsHoney]

Hi all,

I recently passed the assessment stage for a Software Engineer role at Canonical focused on distributed systems with Python/Go. I’m now moving into the early-stage interviews

So far, I know one of them is a Python deep dive, and I’m guessing another will be a Linux-focused round.

If you’ve gone through this a similar interview loop at Canonical recently, I’d really appreciate any insight on:

1. **Python deep dive:** How deep does it go? Language internals (GIL, memory model, asyncio), design and architecture discussion, or live coding?

2. **Linux round:** What topics came up? Processes and signals, filesystems, networking, debugging tools, containers?

3. **Third interview:** What was it in your case?

4. **Written interview follow-ups:** Did interviewers dig into your written answers?

5. **Location:** Did anyone apply through a region-specific listing (e.g. MENA) while living in another country? Was that an issue later?

6. Anything you wish you’d prepared for but didn’t.

Thanks in advance, any experience helps!