Job Description
Job DescriptionCareer Renew is recruiting for one of its clients a Senior Protocol Engineer - Blockchain - this is a fully-remote role and candidates can be based in the US.
We are a stealth-mode, seed-stage startup building a next-gen payments protocol that bridges traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem. Our founding team brings decades of experience across DeFi, FinTech, banking regulation, and financial services.
We’re looking for a Senior Protocol Engineer to join us as a founding team member and lead the design and development of our core protocol infrastructure—from prototype to production deployment.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As an early engineer, you will be at the forefront of developing an innovative protocol that unlocks the potential of decentralised technologies to transact privately and securely across the regulated banking and crypto ecosystems. You will play a critical role in shaping and executing against our product roadmap—from the initial prototype to MVP to live launch. Your contribution will result in a secure, efficient, and scalable solution that becomes the payment rail of the future.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
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Serve as the technical lead for the design and implementation of our custom Layer 2 protocol, including its off-chain and on-chain components.
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With input from the founding team, architect and develop key features for the initial prototype, MVP, and, once ready, production-ready solution, such as:
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State transition logic and execution environment for a permissioned L2.
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Custom smart contracts and bridge logic for integration with public L1s.
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Off-chain messaging and fiat settlement logic between network participants.
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Data availability and consensus mechanisms tailored for a closed, regulated network.
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Collaborate with founding team members to translate architecture requirements, regulatory considerations, and partner constraints into robust protocol designs.
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Write clean, efficient, and secure systems-level code across components (e.g., Rust, Go, or C++) and smart contract logic (e.g., Solidity or Move).
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Work closely with backend and integration engineers to define APIs, data structures, and external-facing services.
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Develop and execute internal testing, devnet tooling, and continuous integration frameworks to support secure, production-grade deployments.
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Stay current with advances in blockchain scaling, token standards, and permissioned L2 architectures.
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Participate in code audits and security reviews conducted by external parties (e.g., partners, auditors, regulators).
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Contribute to the documentation of code, specifications, and processes to maintain a comprehensive knowledge base.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Based in the U.S.
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Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
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5+ years of professional experience in systems programming, infrastructure engineering, or distributed systems.
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3+ years of experience building or contributing to blockchain protocols, smart contract development, or Web3 infrastructure.
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Proficient in one of or all of following low level programming languages - Rust, Go, or C++
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Strong understanding of L1/L2 architectures, rollup mechanics, and bridging models.
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Demonstrated ability to design secure, scalable, and modular software.
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain complex systems to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
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Comfortable navigating both the innovation demands of crypto and the technical rigor of regulated financial services.
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Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced startup in its earliest days.
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Willingness to travel domestically up to 25% for internal and external partner meetings.
WHAT WE OFFER
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Competitive compensation: salary, bonus, and equity
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Full medical, vision, dental benefits
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401(k), with matching program
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Flexible vacation policy (PTO) and remote-first work environment
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A+ team of execution-focused builders who are equally as excited to create customer-first, reliable solutions as you are
Compensation & Package
Comp package also includes target cash bonus, target equity, benefits, and 401(k) matching.