Senior Blockchain Engineer - Protocol Development

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Competitive compensation

Health benefits

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Blockchain Engineer for a fully remote startup role focused on building a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain. You will shape core protocol architecture, consensus, and cryptographic primitives to advance security, scalability, and decentralization.

The position emphasizes autonomy, asynchronous collaboration, and a results-driven culture, delivering robust blockchain systems from anywhere in the world.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cryptography, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of software engineering, with at least 4 years on blockchain protocol development.
• Strong knowledge of distributed systems, networking, and consensus algorithms (PoW, PoS, BFT).
• Expertise in Rust, Go, or C++ and modern cryptographic primitives.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement core components of a Layer 1 blockchain protocol.
• Research and develop consensus algorithms and network protocols.
• Write secure, high-performance code in Rust, Go, or C++.
• Optimize performance, scalability, and security through testing and analysis.
• Collaborate with cryptography experts to integrate advanced techniques.
• Develop and maintain network infrastructure, including nodes and RPC endpoints.
• Participate in code reviews and troubleshooting of protocol issues.
• Contribute to protocol documentation and research papers.
• Stay updated on distributed systems and blockchain advancements.

Skills

Blockchain protocol

Rust

Go

C++

Distributed systems

Cryptography

Performance tuning

Problem solving

Communication

Research contributions

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science or Cryptography

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a visionary startup building a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Blockchain Engineer to join their fully remote team. This is a foundational role where you will have a significant impact on the core architecture and development of our blockchain protocol. You will be involved in designing and implementing consensus algorithms, transaction processing mechanisms, and cryptographic primitives that ensure the security, scalability, and decentralization of our network. As a remote-first organization, we champion autonomy, asynchronous collaboration, and a results-oriented culture, offering an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the cutting edge of blockchain innovation from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement core components of our Layer 1 blockchain protocol.
• Contribute to the research and development of novel consensus algorithms and network protocols.
• Write high-quality, performant, and secure code in languages such as Rust, Go, or C++.
• Optimize blockchain performance, scalability, and security through rigorous testing and analysis.
• Collaborate with cryptography experts and other engineers to integrate advanced cryptographic techniques.
• Develop and maintain network infrastructure, including nodes, RPC endpoints, and monitoring tools.
• Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues related to the blockchain protocol.
• Contribute to technical documentation and research papers related to the protocol's design and functionality.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in distributed systems, cryptography, and blockchain technology.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cryptography, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 4 years focused on blockchain protocol development.
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, networking, and consensus algorithms (e.g., PoW, PoS, BFT).
• Proven experience designing and implementing scalable and secure blockchain architectures.
• Expertise in at least one systems programming language such as Rust, Go, or C++.
• Strong knowledge of cryptography, including public-key cryptography, hashing, and digital signatures.
• Experience with performance tuning and optimization of complex systems.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a distributed, asynchronous team.
• Published research in relevant fields or contributions to major open-source blockchain projects is highly desirable.

Benefits

This is a fully remote, groundbreaking opportunity offering significant autonomy and impact. Our client provides a highly competitive compensation package, including substantial equity, a generous salary, and comprehensive health benefits. You will work alongside world-class researchers and engineers on a project that has the potential to redefine blockchain technology. We foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, providing resources for professional development, conference attendance, and further research. Join a passionate team dedicated to building the future of decentralized infrastructure, unbound by location.