Founding CTO (Web3)

Hyphen Connect Limited; Abu Dhabi, Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Hyphen Connect Limited in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Founding CTO to lead the architecture and build-out of its innovative technical platform. This role involves designing, building, and scaling the full technical stack, focusing on exchange infrastructure and protocol layers, with an emphasis on smart contract development.

The ideal candidate will possess over 5 years of building blockchain or crypto infrastructure and have proven experience shipping production protocols to mainnet. The position offers significant ownership of technical strategy within a dynamic start-up environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years building blockchain or crypto infrastructure.
• Proven experience shipping at least one protocol or exchange to mainnet.
• Strong communicator across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy a hybrid AMM / orderbook‑based exchange for branded tokens.
• Build liquidity pools and routing logic for market-making infrastructure.
• Hire, lead, and scale the engineering team across protocol, backend, and product.

Skills

Blockchain infrastructure

Production smart contracts

DeFi mechanics

Leadership and team scaling

Understanding of consumer-facing systems

Tools

Solidity

Foundry / Hardhat

React Native

Job description

We are partnering with a venture-backed, early-stage technology company building a programmable loyalty and rewards operating system for global consumer brands. The platform enables brands to launch white-label fan engagement and monetisation experiences—including predictions, quests, digital drops, auctions, and ticketing—without gambling mechanics.

At its core, the platform combines consumer-grade applications with a tokenised exchange and settlement layer, enabling branded tokens to be issued, traded, and distributed at scale. Initial verticals are in global sports and entertainment, with expansion planned into additional IP-driven markets.

The company is now seeking a Founding CTO to lead the architecture and build-out of its protocol, exchange infrastructure, and engineering organisation from day one.

As Founding CTO, you will be responsible for designing, building, and scaling the full technical stack, with a particular focus on the exchange and protocol layer. You will oversee smart contract development, liquidity and market mechanics, wallet infrastructure, and the integration between on-chain systems and high‑scale consumer products.

This is a hands‑on leadership role suited to a senior Web3 technologist who has shipped production protocols and wants full ownership of technical strategy in a greenfield environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy a hybrid AMM / orderbook‑based exchange for branded tokens
• Build liquidity pools, routing logic, and market‑making infrastructure
• Define token economics, liquidity incentives, and trading mechanics
• Smart contracts
• Develop, test, and deploy core protocol contracts, including:
• Liquidity pools and staking
• Rewards distribution and governance
• Lead audit processes and ensure a strong on‑chain security posture
• Wallet & settlement infrastructure
• Implement abstracted wallet solutions (e.g. smart accounts, MPC)
• Integrate fiat on/off‑ramps and external custody providers where required
• Platform integration
• Oversee architecture connecting the protocol layer to:
• Rewards and commerce systems (drops, auctions, ticketing, merchandise)
• Analytics and reporting dashboards
• Consumer products
• Guide development of mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications delivered under partner branding
• Hire, lead, and scale the engineering team across protocol, backend, and product
• Set engineering standards, development workflows, and technical roadmap
• Make strategic build‑vs‑buy decisions and select vendors and tooling

Qualifications

• 5+ years building blockchain or crypto infrastructure
• Proven experience shipping at least one protocol or exchange to mainnet
• Deep understanding of DeFi mechanics (AMMs, liquidity mining, tokenomics)
• Strong production smart contract experience with a clean audit track record
• Experience working with L2s, rollups, or app‑chains
• Familiarity with consumer‑facing systems and real‑time platforms
• Comfortable operating in early‑stage, resource‑constrained environments
• Able to balance protocol purity with product and user experience needs
• Strong communicator across technical and non‑technical stakeholders

Technical environment

• Smart contracts: Solidity (advanced), Foundry / Hardhat, formal verification fundamentals
• Security: Audit coordination, attack vector mitigation (reentrancy, flash loans, oracle risk), monitoring and incident response
• Product stack exposure: React Native or Flutter, PostgreSQL, Redis, event streaming (useful for protocol‑to‑product integration)

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, or veteran status.