Head of Blockchain Engineering
ZK Layer 2
Head of Blockchain Engineering (ZK Layer 2)
Location: San Francisco, New York, Switzerland, or remote for exceptional candidates
Type: Full-time, Executive (Reports to CTO)
About the Role
Our well funded client is seeking a founding-level engineering leader to architect, build, and scale a ZK-native, privacy-preserving Layer 2 infrastructure. This role owns the full technical stack — from protocol design to production rollout — working closely with cryptography and product teams to deliver a high-performance zkEVM-based ledger.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead engineering for a Layer 2 rollup from architecture to production deployment.
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Build and scale a performant, composable zkEVM with privacy guarantees.
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Recruit, mentor, and manage a multi-domain engineering team (protocol, infra, smart contracts, full-stack).
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Optimize zk circuits, prover performance, and privacy features with cryptography experts.
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Drive key decisions on sequencer design, DA layers, rollup tooling, and bridging.
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Ensure secure integration of stablecoins, RWAs, and DeFi apps into the platform.
Requirements
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Proven experience delivering a blockchain/L2/zkEVM product from inception to scale.
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15+ years engineering experience, including 4+ years leading blockchain/L2 infra teams.
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Hands-on expertise with ZK systems (STARKs, SNARKs, Halo2, Plonky2, Cairo, etc.).
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Deep understanding of Ethereum, rollups, and zkEVM mechanics.
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Strong proficiency in Rust, Solidity, or zk circuit languages (Cairo, Circom, Noir).
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Exceptional leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Nice to Have
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Experience with stablecoins, privacy-preserving assets, or programmable wallets.
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Knowledge of sequencing, MEV protection, and interoperability frameworks.
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Contributions to open-source ZK tooling or rollup frameworks.