Senior Researcher, Systems

Category Labs; New York (NY); On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

World class benefits package (medical/dental/vision)

Unlimited paid time off

401(k) retirement plan + company match

Lunch and dinner stipend (in-office NYC)

Monthly wellness benefit

Paid parental leave

Job summary

A leading blockchain research firm is seeking a Systems Researcher to tackle challenging problems in decentralized technology. The role emphasizes research in databases and operating systems, requiring a PhD and significant expertise in performance optimization and algorithm design. Join a fast-paced, collaborative team dedicated to innovative solutions. The position offers a competitive salary of $250,000 and a comprehensive benefits package, including flexible time off and wellness support.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science or equivalent.
• Significant research experience in databases or operating systems.
• Experience writing performant algorithms and production-grade code.

Responsibilities

• Designing algorithms and architectures for storage or recovery.
• Researching new architectures.

Skills

Research experience in systems verification

Database knowledge

Operating systems knowledge

Multi-core algorithms

Performance optimization

Collaborative teamwork

Adaptability in fast-paced environments

Curiosity for system details

Education

PhD in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

C++

clang

LLVM

gdb

perf

Unix

git

Job description

Category Labs (formerly known as Monad Labs) is a team of systems engineers and researchers on a mission to design and build at the frontier of decentralized technology. We strive to design and build step-function improvements over existing blockchain solutions. After recently raising $225M in series A funding, led by Paradigm, we are growing our team.

The Role

We are looking for systems researchers with a strong interest in databases and operating systems. Candidates with research experience in systems verification, operating systems, multi-core algorithms, or systems architecture, are an ideal match. You will be part of a small, deeply technical team, working on high-impact problems in a fast-paced environment. Although we are building a new blockchain, previous experience with crypto is not expected.

What You Will Do

• Designing performant algorithms and architectures related to storage or recovery, in single-node or distributed environments.

• Researching new architectures

• Tech stack: C++, clang, LLVM, gdb, perf, unix, git

Who You Are

• PhD in Computer Science or equivalent
• Significant research experience into databases or operating systems
• Experience writing performant algorithms
• Experience writing production-grade code
• Resourceful and self-motivated
• Collaborative
• Adaptive; able to make meaningful contributions in a fast-paced environment
• Curious about lower-level system details
• Interested in building high-value, performant and distributed systems

Why Work with Us

• Challenging problems. You’ll work on extremely challenging problems with massive impact. See our Blogs and Papers & Talks for a flavor of the problems we are solving in the real world.

• Huge opportunity. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) standard is ubiquitous, but existing EVM-compatible chains are very slow. Monad’s core innovations offer developers the best of both worlds (portability and performance) and are a game-changer for mass user adoption in crypto.

• The right team. You’ll be part of a small, exceptional team (engineers and researchers make up 90% of the team).

• Culture. We’re a lean team working together to achieve very ambitious goals. We are united in our culture of collaboration, low ego, and high-quality output. As an early member of our team, you’ll help to shape our culture.

• Compensation. You’ll receive a competitive salary and equity package.

• Resources and growth. We’re well-capitalized, with backing from leading venture funds like Paradigm, Electric Capital, Greenoaks, Dragonfly, and Coinbase Ventures. We keep a lean team, and this is a rare opportunity to join. You’ll learn a lot and grow as our company scales.

Salary and Benefits

Target full-time salary of $250,000. (**This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary; a final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, domain expertise, and geographic location.)

Benefits for US employees include:

• World class benefits package (medical/dental/vision)

• Unlimited paid time off

• 401(k) retirement plan + company match

• Lunch and dinner stipend (in-office NYC)

• Monthly wellness benefit

• Paid parental leave