Lead Smart Contract Developer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive salary and equity

Comprehensive health, dental, and視ion?

Generous paid time off and flexible工作?

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Smart Contract Developer to drive the architecture, design, and deployment of secure, scalable contracts across Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains. This remote-first role demands deep blockchain expertise and a track record delivering production contracts.

You will mentor juniors, conduct security reviews, and collaborate with product and engineering teams to translate requirements into robust smart contracts.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software development experience, with at least 3 years in smart contract development.
• Proven experience building and deploying production-ready contracts on Ethereum or EVM-compatible chains.
• Deep understanding of blockchain principles, cryptography, and security best practices.
• Experience with security audits and vulnerability mitigation for smart contracts.
• Proficient in Solidity and related development tools (Hardhat, Truffle, Foundry).

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, testing, and deployment of smart contracts on Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and other platforms.
• Architect secure, gas-efficient contract solutions for dApps, DeFi, and NFTs.
• Conduct code reviews, security audits, and performance optimizations for contracts.
• Define and enforce best practices for development, testing, and deployment.
• Mentor junior developers and contribute to technical strategy for decentralized systems.

Skills

Solidity

EVM

Security auditing

Blockchain architecture

Code reviews

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/SE

Tools

Hardhat

Truffle

Foundry

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a revolutionary startup at the forefront of decentralized innovation, is seeking a highly skilled Lead Smart Contract Developer to join their fully remote team. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of decentralized applications (dApps) and protocols. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of secure, efficient, and scalable smart contracts that form the backbone of our client's groundbreaking projects. Working in a collaborative, remote-first environment, you will leverage your deep expertise in blockchain development to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation. This role is ideal for a seasoned developer who is passionate about Web3, thrives on technical challenges, and is eager to make a significant impact in the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape. We believe in empowering our remote team members and fostering a culture of continuous learning and shared success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart contracts on various blockchain platforms (e.g., Ethereum, Solana, Polygon).
• Architect and implement secure and gas-efficient smart contract solutions for dApps, DeFi protocols, and NFTs.
• Conduct rigorous code reviews, security audits, and performance optimizations for smart contracts.
• Define and enforce best practices for smart contract development, testing, and deployment.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and other engineers to translate requirements into technical specifications.
• Troubleshoot and debug smart contract issues, ensuring the integrity and reliability of deployed applications.
• Stay ahead of the curve on blockchain technology advancements, security vulnerabilities, and emerging smart contract patterns.
• Mentor and guide junior smart contract developers, fostering a high-performing team culture.
• Contribute to technical strategy and the overall architecture of decentralized systems.
• Ensure compliance with security standards and best practices throughout the development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years specifically focused on smart contract development.
• Expertise in Solidity and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) ecosystem.
• Proven track record of developing and deploying secure, production-ready smart contracts.
• Deep understanding of blockchain principles, consensus mechanisms, and cryptography.
• Experience with smart contract development tools and frameworks (e.g., Hardhat, Truffle, Foundry).
• Strong knowledge of common smart contract vulnerabilities and mitigation techniques.
• Experience with security auditing practices for smart contracts.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, essential for a remote team.
• Familiarity with other blockchain protocols or Layer 2 scaling solutions is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for equity.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Opportunities for professional development and attending industry conferences.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and challenging projects.
• A fully remote work environment fostering work-life balance.
• Be part of a rapidly growing and innovative Web3 company.