Senior Protocol Engineer

Senior/Staff/Principal Protocol Engineer

Location: San Francisco, CA / In-Person

Employment Type: Full-Time

About Nexus

The Nexus Project is pioneering verifiable computation through open science and open-source software. Our mission is to unite the world's computers and prove humanity's computations using zero-knowledge cryptography. Backed by $25M in Series A funding from top investors, we're building a global network of verifiable compute provers.

Job Description

As a Senior Protocol Engineer at Nexus, you'll be at the forefront of blockchain and Web3 technology, developing cutting-edge protocols and smart contracts for our verifiable computation network. You'll work on designing and implementing core blockchain infrastructure, consensus mechanisms, and decentralized applications (dApps) that power the Nexus ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and Implement Smart Contracts: Architect and implement high-value, secure smart contracts with a focus on robustness and bulletproof security measures to safeguard substantial digital assets.

• Innovate Blockchain Protocols: Architect and refine blockchain protocols and decentralized systems to enhance scalability, security, and performance.

• Consensus Algorithm Development: Design and optimize cutting-edge consensus algorithms for the Nexus network.

• Zero-Knowledge Proof Integration: Collaborate with leading cryptographers to integrate advanced zero-knowledge proofs into blockchain protocols and smart contracts.

• Layer-1 and Layer-2 Development: Contribute to the architecture and implementation of scalable Layer-1 and Layer-2 solutions, with a focus on performance and resilience.

• Cross-Chain Interoperability: Build robust cross-chain interoperability solutions, including bridges and communication protocols between networks.

• Code Quality and Reviews: Lead code reviews to ensure best practices, high-quality standards, and security in blockchain and smart contract development.

• Web3 Innovation: Research and integrate the latest Web3 technologies, standards, and frameworks to keep Nexus at the forefront of decentralized innovation.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Guide and mentor other engineers, fostering technical growth and innovation within the team.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive Blockchain Experience: 8+ years of experience in blockchain development, protocol engineering, or smart contract development, with a proven track record of successful deployments.

• Technical Proficiency: Mastery of smart contract languages like Solidity, Rust, or Move, along with blockchain core development languages like Rust, Go, or C++.

• Blockchain Expertise: Deep understanding of blockchain architectures, consensus mechanisms (e.g., PoS, PoW, BFT), and cryptographic primitives.

• Experience with Major Platforms: Hands-on experience with Ethereum, Polkadot, Cosmos, or similar blockchain platforms, including familiarity with their tooling and ecosystems.

• Web3 and DeFi Knowledge: In-depth understanding of DeFi protocols, tokenomics, DAOs, and on-chain governance systems.

• Distributed Systems Expertise: Strong foundation in distributed systems and peer-to-peer networking.

• Web3 Development Tools: Proficiency with Web3.js, ethers.js, or equivalent blockchain interaction libraries.

• Cryptography Knowledge: Strong grasp of cryptographic principles, including zero-knowledge proofs, with practical experience in their application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Open Source Leadership: Demonstrated contributions to prominent open-source blockchain projects or influential research papers in the field.

• Scaling Solutions Expertise: Deep experience with Layer-2 scaling solutions, including Rollups, State Channels, and zkRollups.

• Formal Verification: Familiarity with formal verification tools and methods for ensuring the correctness of smart contracts.

• Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs): Knowledge of TEEs and their integration into blockchain systems for secure computation.

• WebAssembly (WASM): Experience with WASM in blockchain contexts, particularly for smart contract execution environments.

• Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machines: Strong understanding of zkVMs and their role in enhancing privacy and scalability within blockchain ecosystems.

• Thought Leadership: Recognized as a leader in the Web3 community through public speaking, blog posts, or active involvement in standard-setting organizations.
  

Technologies and Tools

• Blockchain Platforms: Ethereum, Solana, Near, ICP, Aptos and other leading Layer-1 and Layer-2 networks.

• Smart Contract Languages: Solidity, Rust, Move, and emerging WebAssembly (WASM)-based languages.

• Development Tools: Truffle, Hardhat, Foundry, and other frameworks for efficient smart contract development and testing.

• Testing Frameworks: Advanced testing with Mocha, Chai, Jest, and tools specialized for blockchain environments (e.g., Ganache, Tenderly).

• Version Control: Git and GitHub for collaborative and streamlined development workflows.

• CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, and other automation tools for continuous integration and deployment of blockchain systems.

• Blockchain Analytics: Expertise in using blockchain explorers, analytics tools (e.g., Etherscan, The Graph), and custom query solutions to debug and optimize blockchain data.

• Monitoring and Observability: Tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and specialized blockchain monitoring platforms.
  

Why Join Nexus?

• Work on groundbreaking technology at the intersection of blockchain, cryptography, and distributed systems

• Collaborate with world-class experts in zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized networks

• Contribute to open-source projects that are shaping the future of Web3

• Competitive compensation package including equity in a well-funded startup

• Opportunities for rapid career growth and technical leadership

If you're passionate about blockchain technology and want to push the boundaries of what's possible in Web3, apply now to join the Nexus Protocol Engineering team!