Senior Software Engineer, Block Production

SOLANA FOUNDATION; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

SOLANA FOUNDATION's Anza team is hiring a Senior Software Engineer, Block Production, to fortify the Agave client and the Solana network. You will join a DevOps-like environment focusing on the core pipeline between networking and runtime, handling block production and verification.

You will optimize scheduling, ensure security, scalability, and performance, and collaborate across protocol, security, and infrastructure teams. Experience with Rust or C/C++ and distributed systems is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in CS, Engineering, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in Rust and C/C++, and system programming.
• Experience with distributed systems and blockchain technology is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize block production mechanisms to improve throughput and stability.
• Design and refine scheduling for block production and verification for efficient processing.
• Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities within the pipeline.
• Improve scalability to handle rising transaction volumes and validator participation.
• Create and execute tests including stress tests and benchmarking.
• Collaborate with core protocol engineers, security and infrastructure teams.
• Maintain documentation and conduct peer code reviews.
• Design high-performance shared-memory interfaces between scheduling and execution stages.

Skills

Rust

C/C++

Distributed systems

Blockchain tech

Security mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or equivalent

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Block Production - Anza

Who We Are

Anza is a Solana R&D lab pushing the boundaries of blockchain performance and scalability. Anza was founded by experienced executives and core engineers solving the toughest problems in Web3. Crypto ecosystems rely on robust protocols, and we believe those are best built out in the open, with multiple contributors. We pioneer advanced solutions to meet the evolving demands of decentralized applications.

The Role

As a Software Engineer specializing in block production, scheduling, and verification, you will play a critical role in fortifying Anza's Agave client and the broader Solana network. This team owns the core pipeline between networking and the runtime, responsible for processing ingested transactions and coordinating block-production and verification.

Your work will directly contribute to the efficiency and reliability of our blockchain infrastructure, ensuring seamless and timely block production, scheduling, and verification. You will focus on optimizing the processes that underpin the generation and propagation of blocks, ensuring they are secure, performant, and scalable to meet the demands of future growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and Optimize Block Production: Design, implement, and optimize the mechanisms for block production to enhance the throughput and stability of the Solana network.
• Efficient Scheduling: Develop and refine scheduling mechanisms for both block production and block verification, enabling efficient transaction processing, fair resource allocation, and predictable performance.
• Ensure Security and Integrity: Identify and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities within the pipeline, ensuring robust protection against emerging threats.
• Scalability and Performance: Work on improving the scalability of the pipeline to handle increasing transaction volumes and validator participation without compromising on performance.
• Testing and Validation: Create and execute comprehensive tests to validate the reliability and efficiency of the block production, block verification, and scheduling mechanisms, including stress tests, fault injection, and performance benchmarking.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including core protocol engineers, security experts, and infrastructure teams, to ensure the seamless integration and functioning of the block production components.
• Documentation and Code Review: Maintain thorough documentation of the block production and scheduling protocols and conduct peer code reviews to uphold high standards of code quality and consistency.
• Shared-Memory Systems: Design and maintain high-performance shared-memory interfaces between scheduling and execution stages, enabling low-latency coordination and efficient data movement across the validator pipeline.

What You\'ll Bring

• Experience: A Bachelor\'s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience and 3+ years of hands-on experience with core infrastructure software and distributed systems.

• Technical Expertise: Strong proficiency in systems programming languages such as Rust, C or C++. Experience with distributed systems, and blockchain technology is highly desirable.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to analyze complex systems, identify potential issues, and develop effective solutions.
• Security Mindset: Knowledge of common security threats and best practices in securing block production processes.
• Performance Optimization: Experience with performance profiling and optimization techniques.
• Collaboration and Communication: Excellent teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Linux, systems automation tools, and systems architecture.
• Deep understanding of , architecture, and principles underlying distributed systems.
• A knack for designing secure protocols, software, and algorithms that minimize trust requirements.
• Active participation in Bitcoin/Ethereum/Blockchain projects or the open-source community is highly desirable.

Why Join Anza?

We offer a dynamic, fast-paced environment where innovation and problem-solving are at the heart of everything we do. Here, your work will have a direct impact on the security and scalability of blockchain technology, contributing to the foundation of decentralized applications worldwide.

We\'re excited to welcome individuals who share our passion for pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology. If you\'re ready to take on the challenge and contribute to the next generation of blockchain infrastructure, we\'d love to hear from you.

The salary range for US-based candidates will be determined throughout the interview process depending on experience, skill, and location. Candidates should anticipate an annual base salary (not including incentive compensation or other benefits) of $180,000 USD to $300,000 USD.