Lead Blockchain Engineer - Decentralized Finance

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stake

Remote work

Health insurance

Professional development

Global impact

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Blockchain Engineer to spearhead DeFi initiatives. This fully remote role offers the chance to shape the future of decentralized finance in a fast-moving, global environment.

You will lead a talented team, architect secure, scalable solutions, and collaborate with product stakeholders to define technical strategy for new DeFi offerings.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software engineering, with 4+ years in blockchain/DeFi.
• Expertise in Solidity and DeFi primitives and protocols.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams on complex projects.
• Strong cryptography, distributed systems, and security knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of complex DeFi protocols (lending, DEX, yield farming).
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to blockchain engineers.
• Architect robust, secure, and scalable blockchain solutions.
• Collaborate with product managers to define strategy and specs for new DeFi offerings.
• Research emerging DeFi trends, tokenomics, and security best practices.

Skills

Blockchain engineering

Solidity

DeFi protocols

Leadership

Crypto security

Distributed systems

Education

Master's degree

PhD preferred

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced and visionary Lead Blockchain Engineer to spearhead their initiatives in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) . This is a fully remote position, offering the opportunity to work from anywhere while driving significant impact within the rapidly evolving crypto and blockchain landscape. You will lead a talented team of engineers, architecting and building sophisticated DeFi protocols, contributing to the future of finance. This role demands a blend of technical mastery, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of complex DeFi protocols, including lending platforms, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and yield farming solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a team of blockchain engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and high performance.
• Architect robust, secure, and scalable blockchain solutions, ensuring optimal performance and minimal latency.
• Collaborate closely with product managers and business analysts to define product strategy and technical specifications for new DeFi offerings.
• Conduct in-depth research into emerging DeFi trends, tokenomics, and security best practices, ensuring our client remains at the cutting edge.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; PhD preferred.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a minimum of 4 years specifically focused on blockchain and DeFi development.
• Expertise in smart contract development (Solidity) and deep knowledge of DeFi primitives and protocols.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and managing complex technical projects from inception to launch.
• Strong understanding of cryptography, distributed systems, and security principles relevant to blockchain.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary and a significant equity stake in the company.
• Fully remote working arrangement, providing ultimate flexibility.
• Top-tier health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous budget for professional development, conferences, and continued education.
• Opportunity to shape the future of decentralized finance in a fast-paced, global environment.