Algorithms Engineer, Differential Privacy

Oblivious; Dublin; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A privacy-focused tech start-up in Dublin is looking for an Algorithms Engineer to develop core components for differential privacy systems. You will design and implement solutions like a Python runtime and SQL engine, translating mathematical theory into production-ready code. Strong foundations in probability, statistics, and proficiency in Python are necessary. This role includes working on privacy accounting methods, ensuring DP-safe execution environments, and benchmarking state-of-the-art algorithms for synthetic data generation. The position offers private health insurance, paid time off, and training opportunities.

Benefits

Private health insurance

Pension plan

Paid time off

Training & development

Qualifications

• Comfortable with statistical modelling, proving bounds, and reasoning about error/variance.
• Ability to translate mathematical concepts from academic papers into robust code.

Responsibilities

• Implement and analyze privacy loss accountants and calibrate noise mechanisms.
• Develop algorithms for static and dynamic sensitivity analysis.
• Use Python AST manipulation for a DP-safe execution environment.
• Implement algorithms for high-dimensional synthetic data generation.

Skills

Strong foundation in probability, statistics, and linear algebra

Proficiency in Python for scientific computing

Ability to translate mathematical concepts into code

Tools

OpenDP

TensorFlow Privacy

SQL

Job description

Ever wanted to join a vibrant young start-up? To tangibly change the world for the better?

Oblivious builds privacy-enhancing technologies to help organisations unlock insights from sensitive data. We are recruiting an Algorithms Engineer to design and implement the core components of our differential privacy (DP) systems, including our Private Python runtime, DP-SQL engine, and synthetic data generator.

This role requires translating mathematical theory into production-ready code. You will work on the fundamental challenges of making rigorous privacy guarantees practical and efficient.

Who We Are:

Oblivious is a start-up focused on enabling secure data collaboration through privacy-enhancing technologies. We were founded by two former PhDs in machine learning and cryptography from the University of Oxford who are on a mission to make privacy-preserving technologies the new norm across the industry. We are backed by some of the most well-respected VCs in Europe and the US, and we are putting together a core product and development team. You will get to build platforms that are leveraged by the largest financial institutions and telecoms companies in the world.

Responsibilities

• Privacy Accounting & Mechanisms: Implement and analyse privacy loss accountants (RDP, zCDP) and their conversions to (ϵ, δ)-DP. Calibrate and apply noise mechanisms (Gaussian, Laplace) based on rigorous sensitivity analysis.
• Differentially Private SQL Engine: Develop algorithms for static and dynamic sensitivity analysis of relational operators. Build query rewriting logic to inject calibrated noise and manage a per-user privacy budget ledger.
• Compiler & Static Analysis: Use Python AST manipulation and static analysis to enforce a DP-safe execution environment, ensuring user-submitted code cannot leak private information.
• DP Synthetic Data: Implement and benchmark state-of-the-art algorithms (e.g., MWEM, PGM, PrivBayes variants) for high-dimensional synthetic data generation, analysing their privacy-utility trade-offs.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in probability, statistics, and linear algebra. You must be comfortable with statistical modelling, proving bounds, and reasoning about error/variance.
• Proficiency in Python for scientific computing, including numerical stability considerations (e.g., floating-point precision, clipping, scaling).
• Demonstrated ability to translate mathematical concepts from academic papers or technical specifications into robust, well-tested code.

Desirable

• Direct experience with differential privacy concepts or libraries (OpenDP, SmartNoise, TensorFlow Privacy).
• Knowledge of compiler design, abstract syntax trees (ASTs), or program analysis.
• Experience with machine learning, particularly with noise models, statistical learning theory, or generative models.
• Familiarity with SQL parsers or database internals.

Benefits

• Private health insurance and pension plan
• Paid time off
• Training & development

Oblivious Software Limited is committed to equal opportunity for all. We may collect, store, and process relevant personal data as part of our candidate evaluation process in accordance with our privacy policy at https://www.oblivious.com/policies-oblivious/privacy-policy