Principal Blockchain Engineer (Remote First)

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Equity participation

Fully remote

Professional development budget

Cutting-edge technology access

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Blockchain Engineer for a fully remote role. You will architect and lead blockchain initiatives, mentor senior teams, and influence technology strategy across distributed platforms.

Applicants should have advanced degrees or equivalent experience, deep cryptography knowledge, and mastery of Go, Rust, C++, and Solidity. This role offers leadership impact and extensive collaboration with a global talent pool.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Blockchain Engineer or Architect leading complex projects.
• Deep expertise in blockchain protocols, distributed systems, cryptography and consensus.
• Proficiency in Go, Rust, C++, Solidity and related tooling.
• Proven ability to design scalable, secure blockchain architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of complex blockchain systems and protocols.
• Architect scalable, secure, and resilient blockchain solutions for enterprise and public use cases.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to senior engineering teams.
• Define technical roadmaps and strategies for blockchain innovation.
• Conduct in-depth research on emerging blockchain technologies and identify opportunities for adoption.
• Oversee the development of smart contracts, consensus algorithms, and distributed ledger technologies.
• Ensure the highest standards of code quality, security, and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align technical solutions with business objectives.
• Represent the company in technical forums and conferences.

Skills

Blockchain architecture

Distributed systems

Cryptography

Consensus mechanisms

Go

Rust

C++

Solidity

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a world-renowned leader in the Crypto & Blockchain space, seeking an exceptional Principal Blockchain Engineer to join their elite, fully remote team. This is a senior leadership role focused on driving innovation and technical excellence across our blockchain initiatives. You will be responsible for architecting complex blockchain solutions, mentoring engineering teams, and influencing the strategic direction of our technology. We are looking for individuals with a profound understanding of blockchain technology, distributed systems, and a passion for building groundbreaking products. This fully remote opportunity allows you to leverage your expertise from anywhere, collaborating with a globally distributed team of top-tier talent. If you are ready to take on significant technical challenges and make a lasting impact on the future of decentralized technology, this role is for you. You will be a key contributor to our most ambitious projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of complex blockchain systems and protocols.
• Architect scalable, secure, and resilient blockchain solutions for enterprise and public use cases.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to senior engineering teams.
• Define technical roadmaps and strategies for blockchain innovation.
• Conduct in-depth research on emerging blockchain technologies and identify opportunities for adoption.
• Oversee the development of smart contracts, consensus algorithms, and distributed ledger technologies.
• Ensure the highest standards of code quality, security, and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align technical solutions with business objectives.
• Represent the company in technical forums and conferences.
• Troubleshoot and resolve the most challenging technical issues within the blockchain infrastructure.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as a Blockchain Engineer or Architect, with a significant track record of leading complex projects.
• Deep expertise in blockchain protocols, distributed systems, cryptography, and consensus mechanisms.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in blockchain development (e.g., Go, Rust, C++, Solidity).
• Proven experience in designing and implementing scalable and secure blockchain architectures.
• Strong understanding of network protocols and distributed computing.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fully remote , collaborative environment.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Familiarity with the South African tech scene, potentially around Randburg, Gauteng, ZA , is a plus but not a prerequisite for this remote role.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and significant bonus potential.
• Comprehensive global health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous stock options or equity participation.
• Flexible working hours and a fully remote work environment.
• Substantial budget for professional development, conferences, and learning resources.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and infrastructure.
• Opportunity to shape the future of decentralized technologies.
• Work with a world-class team of innovators.