Offer summary

Qualifications:

5+ years of backend or systems-level programming experience in Rust and Golang., Familiarity with interoperability protocols in web3, particularly Hyperlane., Experience in designing and implementing zero knowledge circuits, with knowledge of performance trade-offs., Strong understanding of secure systems design in adversarial environments..

Key responsibilities:

Design and implement secure bridging protocols using zero knowledge primitives.

Drive architectural decisions focusing on scalability, performance, and security.

Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in cross-chain interactions.

Provide mentorship to junior engineers and collaborate with engineering, research, and product teams.

Job description

About Celestia Labs

Celestia is the modular blockchain powering unstoppable applications. We are pushing new paradigms for enabling a thriving ecosystem of applications which are performant, interoperable, secure and fully customizable.

About the Team

Celestia Labs is remote first and highly distributed, with English as our primary language for communication. We are looking for self-starters that are excited about working in a fast paced startup environment.

We do not require team members to live in specific timezones, but we primarily operate between European and US time zones (CET & ET), and have a preference for Berlin and New York where most of the engineers are located. Team members are expected to be available as needed for team meetings and company events that are scheduled. Generally these are scheduled between 1pm-6pm CET.

About You

You're a seasoned engineer passionate about distributed systems, cryptographic protocols, and interoperability in blockchain networks. You thrive on solving foundational technical problems and understand the balance between shipping and safeguarding critical infrastructure. You bring both Rust and Golang experience and are comfortable navigating different parts of a codebase. Knowledge of ZK systems is highly desirable. You are collaborative, proactive, and able to work independently in a remote-first environment.

Perks

Flexible and remote work environment with multiple onsites each year

Competitive salary and meaningful long-term compensation package

Stipends for home office, coworking space, professional and personal growth

4 weeks annual vacation

Being part of a collaborative, supportive team with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth

401k and healthcare coverage for US team members

Responsibilities

Protocol Engineering: Design and implement secure and efficient bridging protocols based on zero knowledge primitives.

Architectural Leadership: Drive key architectural decisions, balancing trade-offs in scalability, performance, and security.

Security-First Design: Proactively identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in cross-chain interactions.

Mentorship & Collaboration: Provide technical guidance to junior engineers, and work closely with the broader engineering, research, and product teams.

Lead by Example: Set high standards for code quality, testing, documentation, and effective communication.

Who You Are

Experienced Engineer: 5+ years of backend or systems-level programming experience working in both Rust and Golang. Understanding of solidity is a bonus.

Knowledgeable on Bridging: You’re familiar with current interoperability protocols in web3, specifically Hyperlane and are opinionated about what designs have the best properties for what users want.

Knowledgeable on Zero Knowledge: Familiarity with designing and hands-on coding experience at implementing circuits, specifically using sp1 and risc0. You should be aware of tradeoffs in performance and efficiency between different designs and algorithms.

Security-Conscious: Deep understanding of secure systems design, particularly around adversarial environments.

Self-Directed: You’re highly autonomous and able to identify and own high-impact work.

Problem-Solver: Skilled at identifying and addressing performance bottlenecks and security gaps with effective solutions.

Technical Leader: Known for setting technical direction, mentoring team members, and driving projects to success.

While experience in the blockchain space is preferred – having general excitement about web3 and modular blockchain technology is a must!

Required profile