Lead Smart Contract Engineer

Placements24; Richards Bay; Remote; ZAR 2,334,000 - 3,835,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonuses based on performance

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Fully remote work environment

Stock options

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Smart Contract Engineer to architect, develop, and deploy secure DeFi smart contracts for a remote-first team. You will shape the contract strategy, review code for vulnerabilities, and mentor a team of engineers across multiple blockchain platforms.

You will work with cutting-edge languages and tools, collaborate with product and design, and drive security standards while delivering auditable, scalable solutions in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 6 years of software development experience, with at least 4 years specializing in smart contract development.
• Extensive experience with Solidity and proficiency in other smart contract languages (e.g., Vyper, Rust).
• Deep understanding of blockchain fundamentals, consensus mechanisms, and cryptographic principles.
• Proven track record of deploying secure and audited smart contracts to production environments.
• Experience with smart contract development frameworks (e.g., Hardhat, Truffle, Foundry).
• Familiarity with various blockchain networks (e.g., Ethereum, Polygon, BSC).
• Strong knowledge of DeFi protocols and tokenomics.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, fast-paced, and agile environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of complex smart contracts on various blockchain platforms.
• Define and enforce coding standards, security protocols, and best practices for smart contract development.
• Architect and implement scalable, efficient, and secure smart contract solutions for DeFi applications.
• Conduct thorough code reviews, identify potential vulnerabilities, and ensure the highest level of security.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to translate business requirements into technical specifications.
• Mentor and guide junior smart contract engineers, fostering their technical growth and skill development.
• Stay ahead of the curve on emerging smart contract languages, tools, and security techniques.
• Work with third-party auditors to ensure smart contract code is robust and secure.
• Troubleshoot and debug issues related to smart contract execution and performance.
• Contribute to the overall blockchain architecture and strategy of the company.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Remote work

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering

Tools

Solidity

Vyper

Rust

Hardhat

Truffle

Foundry

Ethereum

Polygon

BSC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazer in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, is seeking an experienced and innovative Lead Smart Contract Engineer to join their fully remote team. This is a leadership position responsible for architecting, developing, and deploying secure and efficient smart contracts for a variety of blockchain applications. As a fully remote-first organization, we value autonomy, collaboration, and the seamless integration of talent from anywhere. You will play a crucial role in shaping our smart contract strategy, working with cutting‑edge blockchain technologies to build the next generation of financial instruments. We are looking for a proactive individual with a deep understanding of smart contract security, a passion for decentralized systems, and the ability to lead and mentor a team of talented engineers. This role offers an exceptional opportunity to drive innovation in the rapidly evolving crypto and blockchain space, contributing directly to the success of impactful projects. The focus is on building robust, auditable, and performant code that sets industry standards. Join us and be a part of a forward‑thinking company that champions remote work and technological advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of complex smart contracts on various blockchain platforms.
• Define and enforce coding standards, security protocols, and best practices for smart contract development.
• Architect and implement scalable, efficient, and secure smart contract solutions for DeFi applications.
• Conduct thorough code reviews, identify potential vulnerabilities, and ensure the highest level of security.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to translate business requirements into technical specifications.
• Mentor and guide junior smart contract engineers, fostering their technical growth and skill development.
• Stay ahead of the curve on emerging smart contract languages, tools, and security techniques.
• Work with third‑party auditors to ensure smart contract code is robust and secure.
• Troubleshoot and debug issues related to smart contract execution and performance.
• Contribute to the overall blockchain architecture and strategy of the company.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in software development, with at least 4 years specializing in smart contract development.
• Extensive experience with Solidity and proficiency in other smart contract languages (e.g., Vyper, Rust).
• Deep understanding of blockchain fundamentals, consensus mechanisms, and cryptographic principles.
• Proven track record of deploying secure and audited smart contracts to production environments.
• Experience with smart contract development frameworks (e.g., Hardhat, Truffle, Foundry).
• Familiarity with various blockchain networks (e.g., Ethereum, Polygon, BSC).
• Strong knowledge of DeFi protocols and tokenomics.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, fast‑paced, and agile environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance‑based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Fully remote work environment with significant flexibility.
• Stock options in a rapidly growing company.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications.
• Access to cutting‑edge technology and a collaborative team culture.
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• 401(k) or similar retirement plan with matching contributions.