Protocol Engineer

Overview

We are looking for a senior‑level Protocol Engineer to join a core blockchain team building next‑generation Web3 payments infrastructure. This role focuses on designing and implementing secure, efficient smart contracts and protocol‑level components that power cross‑chain value transfer at scale. You will operate at the intersection of smart contract development, DeFi mechanics, and blockchain architecture, contributing directly to systems that enable millions of on‑chain transactions.

Location: Midtown NYC; visa sponsorship available

Work Model: Onsite (NYC)

Employment Type: Full‑time

Seniority Level: Senior (L1–L4)

Industry: Blockchain / Web3 Payments

Start Date: ASAP

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy production‑grade smart contracts across major blockchain platforms
• Architect secure protocol components for on‑chain payments and settlement systems
• Write highly efficient, well‑tested Solidity code
• Collaborate with backend and product teams on cross‑chain payment flows
• Research and evaluate new blockchain networks and interoperability approaches
• Contribute to cross‑chain communication and bridging strategies
• Perform security reviews and proactively mitigate smart contract vulnerabilities
• Support incident response and debugging of on‑chain issues

Requirements

• Proven experience building and deploying production smart contracts (Ethereum / L2s)
• Strong expertise in Solidity (required)
• Deep understanding of DeFi protocols, token standards, and on‑chain mechanics
• Solid knowledge of cross‑chain communication patterns
• Strong security mindset and awareness of common smart contract vulnerabilities
• Ability to reason about protocol architecture and distributed system design
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have

• Experience with Rust or Move
• Production experience across multiple blockchain ecosystems
• Familiarity with cross‑chain bridges
• Experience with formal verification or advanced security tooling
• Deep understanding of blockchain architecture and consensus models

Interview Process

• Recruiter screening (technical depth, location, compensation alignment)
• Technical deep dive with protocol lead / Solidity engineer
• Smart contract design and security assessment (live and/or take‑home)
• Onsite in NYC including technical and cultural interviews