Principal Software Engineer

Job Description
Join the team redefining how the world experiences video creation.

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte

Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time-consuming, and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point.

Where And How You Can Work
Our flagship campus is in Sydney, with additional hubs across ANZ. But you have a choice in where and how you work—we trust our Canvanauts to find the balance that empowers them and their team to achieve their goals.

What You'd Be Doing In This Role
As Canva scales, change continues to be part of our DNA. You'll lead the technical direction for video technology that powers millions of daily exports, architecting scalable, high-performance rendering systems and pioneering AI-powered video features. You'll work alongside talented engineers, tackling complex problems and pushing the boundaries of browser-based video creation.

About The Role
This is one of the most technically ambitious roles at Canva, situated at the intersection of engineering, creativity, and innovation. The Video group is building the future of how people create and consume video, powering millions of users worldwide, from everyday creators to global brands. Our mission is to democratise video creation through world-class rendering engines, scalable infrastructure, and AI-powered creativity.

As our Principal Video Engineer, you'll be the technical visionary leading this mission. You'll architect the systems that underpin Canva's video technology stack, including next-gen rendering pipelines and cross-platform export engines, while also partnering closely with research teams to embed AI and ML into every stage of the video creation process. From real-time generative tools to smart editing workflows, you'll play a central role in turning Canva into an AI-first creative platform.

At the moment, this role is focused on

• Architecting and leading Canva's video stack, balancing performance, scalability, and user experience
• Designing cutting-edge rendering engines and optimising video composition pipelines
• Driving performance optimisation and solving complex export cost and reliability challenges
• Mentoring engineers and shaping architectural standards for video technology
• Leading innovative features like AI-powered effects and advanced international language support

You're probably a match if

• Extensive experience building high-performance video and graphics rendering engines
• Deep expertise in video editing, composition, or similar creative software
• Proven skills in scalable system architecture supporting millions of users
• A track record of technical leadership in video or digital content creation tooling
• Experience with cross-platform development and engine consolidation

About The Team
Video at Canva is on a mission to democratise video creation, delivering seamless, professional-quality experiences to millions worldwide. Our team works at the forefront of innovation, building robust and scalable video infrastructure that powers everything from individual creators to enterprise teams.

What's in it for you?
Achieving Our Crazy Big Goals Motivates Us To Work Hard — And We Do — But You'll Also Enjoy Moments Of Magic, Connection, And Fun Throughout Life At Canva. We Offer

• Equity packages — we want our success to be yours too
• Inclusive parental leave policies supporting all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance supporting wellbeing, social connection, and office setup
• Flexible leave options empowering you to recharge and thrive

Check out for more info.

Other Stuff To Know
We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills, and passion, as well as how you enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please share your pronouns and any adjustments you might need during the interview process. We celebrate all kinds of skills and backgrounds — even if you don't tick every box, we want to hear from you

Interviews are conducted virtually.