Senior Protocol Engineer

Jobgether; Ireland; Remote; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Global coworking access

Continuous learning sponsorship

Job summary

Jobgether in Ireland is assisting a partner company seeking a Senior Protocol Engineer to design and scale a Bitcoin-secured Layer 2 blockchain infrastructure. The role is hands-on, involves core protocol components, testing, and operational upgrades across live networks in an international, remote-first environment.

You will own architecture decisions, contribute to open-source code, and collaborate with product, DevOps, and security teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience, with 2+ years in blockchain core/protocol development.
• Proficient in Go, Rust, or Java for production-grade software.
• Strong understanding of blockchain architecture and EVM-compatible systems.
• Experience with distributed systems and production blockchain environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, maintain, and optimize core blockchain protocol components (execution and consensus clients, sequencers, block derivation).
• Contribute to Layer 2 rollup infrastructure ensuring scalability and secure interaction with the parent chain.
• Develop bridge and proof system components, including deposits, withdrawals, and cross-layer messaging.
• Work with a large open-source codebase and prepare technical documentation, RFCs, and design proposals.
• Design and execute comprehensive testing strategies (unit, integration, adversarial) and investigate production issues.

Skills

Go

Rust

Java

English

Distributed systems

Tools

Docker

Prometheus

Grafana

JSON-RPC

Job description

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Protocol Engineer based in Ireland.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Protocol Engineer to contribute to the development and scaling of an innovative Bitcoin-secured Layer 2 blockchain infrastructure. In this hands-on engineering role, you will work on critical protocol components, including sequencing, block derivation, consensus, finality, bridges, and proof systems. You will join a small, highly skilled team of senior engineers where technical ownership, autonomy, and collaboration are essential. From designing and implementing core protocol features to testing and operating upgrades on live networks, you will have a direct impact on the reliability, security, and performance of the blockchain ecosystem. You will also contribute to architectural decisions, open-source development, and continuous improvements across a complex distributed system. This is an exciting opportunity to work with cutting-edge blockchain technology in an international, remote-first environment.

Accountabilities:

• Design, develop, maintain, and optimize core blockchain protocol components, including execution and consensus clients, sequencers, block derivation mechanisms, and batch submission processes to the parent chain.
• Contribute to the architecture and implementation of the Layer 2 rollup infrastructure, ensuring scalability, reliability, and secure interaction with the underlying blockchain.
• Develop and maintain bridge and proof system components, covering deposits, withdrawals, cross-layer messaging, and state validation.
• Work extensively within a large open-source codebase, understanding complex system interactions and implementing safe, maintainable changes suitable for production environments.
• Participate in technical design discussions, architecture decisions, code reviews, and the preparation of technical documentation, design proposals, and RFCs.
• Design, implement, and execute comprehensive testing strategies, including unit, integration, distributed-system, and adversarial testing.
• Investigate and resolve complex technical issues involving chain reorganizations, node synchronization failures, network desynchronization, and performance bottlenecks.
• Build, deploy, and operate protocol releases on public blockchain networks, including network upgrades, hard forks, monitoring, and incident management.
• Collaborate closely with Product, DevOps, and Security teams to coordinate development priorities, ensure release readiness, and deliver reliable protocol improvements.
• Take ownership of technical initiatives from initial problem definition through implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.
• Leverage AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering productivity while maintaining responsibility for code quality, security, and technical decisions.

Requirements:

• At least 5 years of professional software engineering experience, including a minimum of 2 years specifically focused on blockchain core or protocol development, such as node clients, consensus mechanisms, or execution environments.
• Strong professional experience developing and maintaining production-grade software using mainstream programming languages such as Go, Rust, or Java.
• Deep understanding of blockchain architecture and internal mechanisms, particularly EVM-compatible systems.
• Solid knowledge of consensus protocols, peer-to-peer networking, blockchain state and storage, transaction lifecycles, and JSON-RPC interfaces.
• Proven ability to navigate, understand, and contribute effectively to large and complex codebases, including projects initially developed by other engineering teams.
• Practical experience building and maintaining reliable software for distributed systems and production blockchain environments.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI-assisted development tools as an integral part of the engineering workflow, while independently validating and taking ownership of delivered solutions.
• Strong autonomy, initiative, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify technical challenges, define solutions, and drive projects forward without relying on detailed instructions.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate effectively within an international, distributed engineering team.
• Professional experience with Go and/or Rust is particularly valuable.
• Hands-on experience with Ethereum Layer 2 rollups, including optimistic or zero-knowledge (ZK) architectures, is a strong advantage.
• Good understanding of rollup architecture and design principles, including sequencing, data availability, block derivation, and finality.
• Contributions to open-source blockchain clients, protocol implementations, or rollup technology stacks are highly desirable.
• Familiarity with fault-proof systems, validity proofs, and blockchain state verification is an advantage.
• Knowledge of Bitcoin architecture and EVM-compatible blockchain ecosystems is beneficial.
• Experience with Docker, cloud infrastructure providers, monitoring, and observability tools such as Prometheus and Grafana is a plus.
• Ability to read, understand, and review Solidity smart contracts, particularly bridge and system contracts, is an additional advantage.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation: Attractive remuneration package with additional benefits designed to support your professional growth and personal well-being.
• Fully remote work: Work remotely from eligible locations across Europe and Latin America, with the flexibility to organize your working environment.
• Global coworking access: Access coworking spaces worldwide, offering flexibility and opportunities to connect with other professionals.
• Work-life balance: Enjoy paid annual vacation and sick leave to support your personal needs and well-being.
• Continuous learning: Access annual learning and development sponsorship, including professional training programs and language courses.
• Cutting-edge projects: Work on innovative blockchain infrastructure and contribute to the evolution of Bitcoin-secured Layer 2 technology.
• International collaboration: Join a diverse, globally distributed team of experienced blockchain engineers and technology professionals.
• Professional growth: Develop your technical expertise through challenging engineering projects, knowledge sharing, and exposure to advanced protocol architecture.
• Meaningful impact: Take ownership of critical blockchain infrastructure and contribute to technology designed to expand Bitcoin's role in decentralized finance and on-chain financial markets.

How Jobgether works:

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.