Research Engineer
About the Role
You will turn ill-defined problems into executable plans, clarify constraints, define success metrics, and propose viable approaches. You will evaluate build versus buy decisions for cryptography and privacy, produce high-quality design specifications (threat models, protocol sketches, interfaces, performance assumptions), and build proofs of concept to validate feasibility and integration risk. You will research and recommend improvements across zero-knowledge, applied cryptography, block propagation, consensus and finality trade-offs, and latency and performance tuning. You will communicate trade-offs clearly across functions, prioritise highest-impact investigations in a small research group, and maintain rigorous security and correctness standards while staying pragmatic about what can be shipped.
Requirements
- Research experience with ability to prototype and produce production-minded designs
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and shaping ill-defined problems
- Pragmatic and product-aware decision making
- Cryptography and protocol-minded thinking with adversarial mindset
- Clear technical communication and ability to produce executable artefacts
- Evidence-led opinionation and ability to defend and revise positions
- Experience with zero-knowledge or applied cryptography (nice to have)
- Experience with protocol performance topics such as block propagation and mempool dynamics (nice to have)
- Publication track record in security or crypto venues (nice to have)
Responsibilities
- Turn ill-defined problems into executable plans
- Evaluate build versus buy decisions for cryptography and privacy
- Produce high-quality design specifications including threat models and protocol sketches
- Build proofs of concept to validate feasibility and performance
- Research and recommend protocol improvements across zero-knowledge cryptography, networking, consensus, and performance
- Communicate technical trade-offs across Product Research and Engineering
- Prioritise high-impact investigations and unblock engineering teams
- Maintain high standards of rigour in security assumptions and correctness
Benefits
- Token compensation
- Comprehensive insurance coverage with premiums for you and your family
- Monthly wellness stipends
- Visa sponsorship and relocation benefits
- Office amenities including gym access and daily lunches
- Generous annual software and hardware allowances
- Flexible time off policy