Senior Blockchain Engineer - Protocol Development

Placements24; Richards Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 2,488,000 - 3,815,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Competitive salary with equity

Health & wellness benefits

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Blockchain Engineer for a fully remote role. You will design and optimize core blockchain protocols, work on scalability, security, and performance, and collaborate with cryptography experts across distributed teams.

You will code in Go, Rust, or C++, contribute to architecture decisions, and help drive open-source contributions while staying ahead of research in consensus algorithms and distributed systems.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS, Cryptography, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years software engineering experience, with 4+ years in low-level systems/distributed systems.
• Proven blockchain protocol development or significant contribution.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement core blockchain protocol features and enhancements.
• Write high-quality, efficient, and secure code in Go, Rust, or C++.

Skills

Go

Rust

C++

Distributed systems

Cryptography

Low-level programming

Communication

Education

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

Tools

Git

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazer in the blockchain infrastructure space, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Blockchain Engineer to join their elite, fully remote engineering team. This role is critical for the development and enhancement of core blockchain protocols, contributing to the fundamental architecture that powers decentralized networks. You will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and optimizing low-level blockchain components, focusing on scalability, security, and performance. This is an exceptional opportunity to work on challenging, impactful projects that define the future of blockchain technology. Operating in a remote-first environment, our client fosters a culture of autonomy, collaboration, and continuous innovation, allowing you to contribute meaningfully from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement core blockchain protocol features and enhancements.


• Write high-quality, efficient, and secure code in languages such as Go, Rust, or C++.


• Contribute to the architectural decisions and technical roadmap for blockchain protocols.


• Optimize existing protocol mechanisms for performance, scalability, and security.


• Collaborate closely with cryptography experts, researchers, and other engineers to implement complex features.


• Develop and maintain robust testing frameworks and participate in rigorous code reviews.


• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues related to network stability, consensus, and transaction processing.


• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in blockchain consensus algorithms, cryptography, and distributed systems.


• Contribute to the open-source community where applicable.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cryptography, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.


• Minimum of 7 years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong focus (4+ years) on low-level systems programming and distributed systems.


• Proven experience in developing or significantly contributing to blockchain protocols.


• Deep understanding of consensus algorithms (e.g., PoW, PoS, PBFT) and their trade-offs.


• Expertise in at least one systems programming language (Go, Rust, C++).


• Strong knowledge of cryptography, network protocols, and data structures.


• Experience with performance optimization and debugging of complex systems.


• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and algorithmic thinking skills.


• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a distributed team environment.


• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, significant equity options, and a comprehensive benefits package, all tailored for a fully remote workforce.


• Enjoy the flexibility of working from anywhere, coupled with opportunities for professional growth through conferences, workshops, and challenging projects.


• We provide excellent health and wellness benefits, retirement planning support, and a culture that values innovation and individual contribution.


• Join a team that is building the foundational infrastructure for the next generation of the internet.