Senior Researcher, Systems

Monad Foundation; United States; On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited paid time off

401(k) retirement plan + company match

World class benefits package

Lunch and dinner stipend

Monthly wellness benefit

Paid parental leave

Job summary

A leading decentralized technology firm is looking for a systems researcher passionate about databases and operating systems. The role involves designing algorithms for storage and recovery and researching new architectures. Candidates should hold a PhD in Computer Science, have significant research experience, and possess strong algorithm design skills. The position offers a competitive salary of $250,000 and a world-class benefits package, including unlimited paid time off and 401(k) matching.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a PhD in Computer Science or equivalent.
• Experience in databases or operating systems is essential.
• Candidates should have strong skills in algorithm design.

Responsibilities

• Design performant algorithms for storage and recovery in distributed environments.
• Research new architectures for high-impact problems.

Skills

Research experience in databases

Algorithm design

C++ programming

Operating systems knowledge

Collaboration

Adaptability

Education

PhD in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

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