Lead Protocol Engineer - Digital Currency

Job Title:  Lead Protocol Engineer (Digital Currency)

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Lead Protocol Engineer to design, architect, and implement a new, groundbreaking blockchain protocol for a novel digital currency. The ideal candidate will be an expert in cryptography and distributed systems who can translate a vision for decentralized finance into a secure, scalable, and robust core infrastructure. You will lead all technical aspects of the protocol's development, from consensus mechanism design to network architecture and security.

Key Responsibilities

• Protocol Architecture: Design and specify the entire blockchain protocol from the ground up, including the core architecture, data structures, and peer-to-peer networking layer.
• Cryptographic Design: Research, select, and implement cryptographic primitives to ensure the security, privacy, and integrity of all transactions and data on the blockchain.
• Consensus Mechanism: Design and develop a novel consensus algorithm, or optimize an existing consensus algorithm (e.g., Proof of Stake, BFT-based, or a hybrid model), that is secure, efficient, and scalable for a digital currency.
• Core Implementation: Write high-quality, bulletproof code for the core node software in a relevant programming language (e.g., Rust, Go, C++).
• Technical Leadership: Serve as a technical lead for the project, guiding design decisions, mentoring other engineers if necessary and ensuring code quality and standards.
• Research and Innovation: Stay on the cutting edge of blockchain research and actively engage with the academic and open-source community to propose and integrate novel advancements.
• Security Auditing: Implement rigorous testing and validation processes to identify and fix bugs and vulnerabilities, and prepare the protocol for external security audits.
• Technical Documentation: Produce clear, comprehensive, and accurate documentation detailing the protocol's specifications, APIs, and overall architecture.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including researchers, product managers, and external partners, to ensure the protocol aligns with business objectives.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience in a high-level, production-grade blockchain project will also be considered.
• Deep Expertise: A proven track record of designing, building, and launching a live, complex blockchain protocol or significant contributions to a major one.
• Programming Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in at least one systems-level programming language such as Rust, Go, or C++, with a portfolio of relevant work.
• Cryptography: Strong foundational and applied knowledge of cryptographic principles, including hashing, digital signatures, public-key cryptography, and zero-knowledge proofs.
• Distributed Systems: Advanced understanding of distributed computing, peer-to-peer networking, and decentralized systems.
• Blockchain Knowledge: Deep understanding of current blockchain architectures, consensus algorithms (e.g., PoW, PoS), and the broader crypto ecosystem.
• Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex theoretical concepts into practical, working code.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate complex technical ideas to a wide audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• A "crypto-native" mindset with hands-on experience using and interacting with a variety of decentralized protocols.
• Familiarity with tokenomics and game theory for incentive design.
• Experience in an early-stage startup environment, where autonomy and a high-leverage mindset are critical.
• Experience with advanced blockchain topics, such as Layer 2 scaling solutions, cross-chain bridges, and interoperability standards.