Senior Software Engineer, Consensus

SOLANA FOUNDATION; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SOLANA FOUNDATION's Anza unit seeks a Software Engineer, Consensus, to fortify the Agave client and the Solana network. You will optimize consensus mechanisms to improve throughput and reliability, ensuring secure, scalable block validation and ordering.

You should have a Bachelor’s in CS or Engineering and 3+ years in core infrastructure or distributed systems, with strong Rust or C++ skills and experience in blockchain technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years hands-on experience with core infrastructure software and distributed systems.
• Proficiency in Rust or C++, with experience in consensus algorithms and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize consensus mechanisms to enhance throughput and stability of the Solana network.
• Coordinate fair and efficient agreement on block production among validators.
• Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities within consensus mechanisms.
• Improve scalability and performance to handle increasing transaction volumes and validator participation.
• Create and execute tests, including stress tests and performance benchmarks, to validate reliability of consensus.

Skills

Rust

C++

Consensus algorithms

Distributed systems

Blockchain technology

Security mindset

Problem-solving

Performance optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Engineering

Tools

Linux

Job description

Software Engineer, Consensus - 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 consensus, you will play a critical role in fortifying Anza's Agave client and the broader Solana network. Your work will directly improve the efficiency and reliability of our blockchain infrastructure, ensuring robust, timely consensus mechanisms. You will focus on optimizing the processes that underpin the agreement on block validity and order, ensuring they are secure, performant, and scalable to support future growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and Optimize Consensus Mechanisms: Design, implement, and optimize the mechanisms for consensus to enhance the throughput and stability of the Solana network.
• Efficient Coordination: Develop and refine algorithms to ensure fair and efficient agreement on block production among validators.
• Ensure Security and Integrity: Identify and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities within the consensus mechanisms, ensuring robust protection against emerging threats.
• Scalability and Performance: Work on improving the scalability of the consensus system 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 consensus 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 consensus components.
• Documentation and Code Review: Maintain thorough documentation of the consensus protocols and conduct peer code reviews to uphold high standards of code quality and consistency.

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 or C++. Experience with consensus algorithms, distributed systems, and blockchain technology is highly desirable.
• Problem‑Solving Skills: Ability to analyze complex systems, identify potential issues, and develop effective, flexible solutions.
• Security Mindset: Knowledge of common security threats and best practices in securing consensus processes.
• Growth Mindset: Actively consuming research papers, designing, and investigating new solutions.
• 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.
• Understanding of networking, architecture, and principles underlying distributed systems.
• A knack for designing secure protocols, software, and algorithms that minimize trust requirements.
• Self‑driven, research oriented, and the ability to learn independently.
• 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.