Applied Cryptographer - Innovation R&D

TN United Kingdom; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative technology company is seeking an Applied Cryptographer to drive cutting-edge research in blockchain security. In this role, you'll work alongside a talented team to implement advanced cryptographic schemes and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. You'll balance technical requirements with market needs, ensuring the development of secure and scalable systems. If you're passionate about pushing boundaries and thrive in a collaborative environment, this opportunity offers the chance to make a significant impact in the blockchain space.

Benefits

New starter package for hardware essentials

Competitive PTO

Qualifications

• 4-5 years of development experience in applied cryptography.
• Expertise in low-level programming languages like C++ or Rust.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to novel cryptographic research.
• Prototype, benchmark, and implement cryptographic systems.

Skills

Applied Cryptography

Elliptic Curve Cryptography

ZK Protocols

Post-Quantum Security

C++

Rust

Git

Technical Communication

Education

PhD in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Git

Job description

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Applied Cryptographer - Innovation R&D, gb

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Client:

IO Global

Location:

gb, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

08fbd90fa825

Job Views:

2

Posted:

07.05.2025

Expiry Date:

21.06.2025

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Job Description:

Who are we?

IOG, is a technology company focused on Blockchain research and development. We are renowned for our scientific approach to blockchain development, emphasizing peer-reviewed research and formal methods to ensure security, scalability, and sustainability. Our projects include decentralized finance (DeFi), governance, and identity management, aiming to advance the capabilities and adoption of blockchain technology globally.

What the role involves:

As an Applied Cryptographer, you must have advanced experience with cryptographic applications in real world settings as well as the ability to efficiently implement advanced cryptographic schemes. You have the exciting challenge of working on bleeding-edge research and technology, always with a focus on the market's needs. You will work side by side with architects and engineers implementing novel cryptographic primitives that you may have also designed yourself. The scope is everything from Post-Quantum prototypes to hand-optimisation of existing primitives to completely new systems. To support you on this challenge, we have cryptography researchers, software architects, product managers, project managers, formal methods specialists and QA test engineers, with whom you will have high bandwidth communications.

You must possess a pragmatic mindset for building secure, scalable systems, knowing how to balance features, compromise, technical debt and effort, in order to get products shipped whilst their market impact is high.

• Extract requirements from product and engineering regarding cryptographic primitives such as parameters, resource constraints, etc.
• Lead and contribute to novel cryptographic research aligning solutions with product and engineering needs.
• Translate research output into rigorous engineering specifications & implementations.
• Prototype, benchmark, and implement cryptographic systems and primitives.
• Meticulously review cryptographic protocols and proposed primitives.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
• Collaborate in weekly innovation, engineering, and research meetings to share insights and drive progress.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance team-wide understanding and the application of cryptographic technologies.

Requirements

Who you are:

• PhD in Computer Science/Engineering or Applied Mathematics.
• A minimum of 4-5 years development experience in the field
• Experience working with Git and version control
• Expert knowledge of applied cryptography & best practices
• Expert knowledge of elliptic curve cryptography and ZK protocols (e.g., PlonK and IPA commitment schemes)
• Expert knowledge of post quantum security technologies
• Familiarity with blockchain cryptography, consensus protocols and constructions
• Practical experience with implementation of cryptographic primitives
• Expertise in low-level programming languages such as C++ or Rust
• Expertise in rigorous design of cryptographic protocols
• Good understanding of implementation and engineering constraints
• Excellent technical communication and team collaboration skills, enabling effective cross-functional work between research, innovation, and engineering teams.
• Security sensibility related to cryptographic implementation
• Excellent theoretical cryptography and mathematical knowledge
• Ability to read, interpret, and explain cryptographic papers, guiding their practical implementation.

Are you an IOGer?

Do you find yourself questioning the status quo? Do you tinker with ideas and long to turn those ideas into solutions? Are you able to spark thoughtful debates, bringing out the inquisitiveness in others? Does the promise of continuously growing excite you? Then get ready to reimagine everything you thought wasn’t possible because that’s what it means to be an IOGer - we don’t set limits, we break them.

• New starter package to buy hardware essentials (headphones, monitor, etc)
• Competitive PTO

At IOG, we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.