Senior Systems Engineer - Productivity Systems

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.

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, Australia, but with many of our Canvanauts calling the Philippines home, our office in Manila is a buzzing place. Whether your role needs you in the office, at home or a bit of both, we've created an environment that truly empowers you to thrive.

What you’d be doing in this role:

As Canva scales change continues to be part of our DNA. But we like to think that's all part of the fun. So this will give you the flavour of the type of things you'll be working on when you start, but this will likely evolve.

As a Senior Systems Engineer on the Productivity Systems team, you'll be at the forefront of ensuring our essential collaboration and productivity platforms run smoothly across the organization. You'll bring specialized expertise in Google Workspace administration, while also supporting other critical systems like Slack, Workato, and Atlassian products. This isn't just about keeping systems running; it's about elevating how they serve our global team. You'll identify opportunities for automation, integration, and optimization that allow Canvanauts to work more efficiently and collaboratively. Your technical solutions will directly impact thousands of users daily, removing friction from workflows and enabling the magic that happens when great tools become invisible infrastructure.

What you’d be doing in this role:

• Manage and optimize our Google Workspace environment, including user management, security configurations, and custom implementations to meet Canva's unique needs
• Support and enhance our Slack, Workato, and Atlassian environments, ensuring they operate reliably and efficiently
• Develop custom tools and automations using Python, Google Apps Script, and other technologies to solve complex business problems
• Identify and implement AI-powered solutions to enhance productivity systems, creating intelligent automations and workflows that transform how Canvanauts work
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand requirements and implement appropriate technical solutions
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues across multiple platforms, often serving as the escalation point for difficult problems
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of systems, processes, and solutions to build our collective knowledge base
• Participate in and eventually lead projects to evaluate, implement, and integrate new productivity tools and features
• Drive system reliability, ensuring uptime and performance align with business-critical processes.
• Mentor and coach junior Systems Engineers on best practices in design, implementation, and governance.
• Work closely with stakeholders to understand evolving business needs and translate them into scalable solutions.

You're probably a match if:

• You have 5+ years of experience managing Google Workspace and other SaaS applications (e.g. Slack, Atlassian) in an enterprise environment.
• You’ve used Python and Google Apps Script to build custom tools and solutions that streamline workflows.
• You bring previous experience as a high-level System Administrator, managing and supporting a variety of SaaS platforms.
• You’re comfortable working with API integrations between SaaS applications to drive system efficiency.
• You have a solid understanding of Identity and Access Management (IAM) principles and know how to implement them effectively.
• You’ve worked with automation tools and workflows—experience with Workato is a big plus.
• You understand and apply security best practices for cloud-based productivity systems.
• You’re passionate about implementing AI solutions to enhance productivity and transform how teams work.
• You have experience with—or a strong interest in—integrating AI capabilities into existing systems and processes.
• You’re skilled at troubleshooting and resolving complex technical issues across multiple platforms.
• You’ve worked in fast-paced, high-growth technology environments—or are excited by the idea of doing so.
• You’re able to work autonomously when needed, while also being a reliable, collaborative member of a small, high-performing team.
• You can identify issues and develop creative, independent solutions to solve them.
• You’re an excellent communicator, able to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences, build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, and manage vendor partnerships effectively.

What the candidate will learn and how will they develop at Canva:

• You'll develop expertise across a wide range of cutting-edge productivity and collaboration platforms, working at a scale and complexity that few organizations can provide
• You'll build skills in strategic technology planning, learning to align technical solutions with broader business objectives in a hyper growth environment
• You'll gain exposure to diverse teams and functions across Canva, developing a holistic understanding of how technology enables our mission
• You'll have opportunities to develop leadership skills by guiding projects, mentoring team members, and influencing technology decisions
• You'll learn to navigate ambiguity and drive impactful solutions in a globally distributed organization that's constantly evolving

About the team

The Information Technology (IT) Supergroup’s vision is to maximise the potential of every Canvanaut through world class technology & service. We realise our vision through our mission pillars to evolve business operations, accelerate productivity and future proof our foundations which serve as the basis for the IT strategies we execute upon.

The Productivity Systems team is focused on supporting Canva by building solutions that improve how our systems enable Canvanauts. Our mission extends beyond just maintaining systems—we solve complex business problems by applying our skills and expertise to go above and beyond. We own and administer essential platforms including Google Workspace, Slack, Workato, Atlassian products, and Canva itself. Our work directly impacts every Canvanaut's daily experience, helping them collaborate effectively and focus on creating value rather than wrestling with tools.

What's in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard - and we do - but you'll experience lots of moments of magic, connectivity and fun woven throughout life at Canva, too. We also offer a range of benefits to set you up for every success in and outside of work.

Here's a taste of what's on offer:

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.

Other stuff to know

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva so even if you don’t feel like your skills quite match what’s listed above - we still want to hear from you!

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.