Senior Blockchain Engineer - Protocol Development

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 1,400,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Equity potential

Paid time off

R&D opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Paarl, Western Cape, invites an experienced Senior Blockchain Engineer to join the core development team. You will design, implement, and optimize blockchain protocols, consensus mechanisms, and cross-chain interoperability, focusing on performance, security, and scalability.

The role requires deep expertise in distributed systems, cryptography, and systems programming with Go, Rust, or C++. Office-based work at our Paarl facility is expected.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cryptography, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of software engineering with blockchain protocol or distributed systems focus.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, networking, and cryptography.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain core blockchain protocols and infrastructure components.
• Implement and optimize consensus algorithms (PoW, PoS variations).
• Develop network communication protocols for decentralized systems.
• Contribute to cross-chain interoperability designs.
• Write high-performance, secure, well-tested code in Go, Rust, or C++.
• Conduct rigorous testing and performance tuning of blockchain components.
• Research new blockchain technologies and translate concepts into practical implementations.
• Collaborate with research teams to deliver implementable results.
• Participate in code reviews and architectural discussions.
• Ensure security and resilience of the protocol against attacks.

Skills

Distributed systems

Go

Rust

C++

Cryptography

Blockchain protocols

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in CS/ Cryptography

Tools

Geth

Substrate

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazing entity in the blockchain infrastructure space, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Blockchain Engineer to join their core development team in Paarl, Western Cape. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the fundamental building blocks of next-generation blockchain protocols. You will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and optimizing the core technologies that power decentralized networks, focusing on performance, scalability, and security. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of distributed systems, cryptography, and low-level programming. You will work on challenging problems related to consensus mechanisms, network protocols, and interoperability solutions. This is a highly technical role requiring a passion for innovation and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology. As this role requires close collaboration and access to specialized hardware, it is an office-based position within our Paarl, Western Cape facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain core blockchain protocols and infrastructure components.
• Implement and optimize consensus algorithms (e.g., Proof-of-Work, Proof-of-Stake variations).
• Develop network communication protocols for decentralized systems.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of cross-chain interoperability solutions.
• Write high-performance, secure, and well-tested code in languages such as Go, Rust, or C++.
• Conduct rigorous testing, debugging, and performance tuning of blockchain network components.
• Research and evaluate new blockchain technologies and their potential applications.
• Collaborate with research teams to translate theoretical concepts into practical implementations.
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to architectural design discussions.
• Ensure the security and resilience of the blockchain protocol against various attack vectors.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cryptography, or a related field, or equivalent extensive research and development experience.
• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, with a significant portion dedicated to blockchain protocol development or distributed systems.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, networking, and cryptography.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Go, Rust, C++, or similar systems-level languages.
• Proven experience with the design and implementation of consensus mechanisms.
• Familiarity with various blockchain architectures and their underlying technologies.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to tackle complex technical challenges.
• Strong analytical and debugging capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment at our Paarl, Western Cape location.

Benefits

• An exceptional salary of R per annum.
• Performance bonuses and potential for equity.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Opportunities for groundbreaking research and development in blockchain.
• Work with a world-class team of blockchain pioneers.
• State-of-the-art research and development facilities in Paarl, Western Cape.
• Support for attending major blockchain conferences and academic institutions.
• Generous paid time off.