Partner Chains is a venture within IOHK that is developing a research-backed blockchain protocol aimed at simplifying the incubation, innovation, and deployment of applications to address specialized business challenges. Our goal is to make it easier for blockchain developers to focus on their core business, with decentralized finance as a foundational capability at the protocol layer.
Our mission is to make it easy for developers to create secure, transparent products that enable direct transactions without relying on financial intermediaries. We build protocols and tools that promote financial inclusion, reduce transaction costs, and give users ownership over their assets.
What the role involves:
As a Principal Software Engineer in the Partner Chains team, you will be a key contributor in developing and maintaining the Rust implementation of the Partner Chains Substrate node. Your primary focus will be on designing and implementing an innovative cross-chain protocol that leverages advanced cryptographic techniques like Threshold Signature Schemes (TSS). This role needs deep expertise in Rust, distributed systems, smart contracts, and blockchain protocols.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and development of the Partner Chains Substrate node in Rust, ensuring it meets high standards of performance, security, and scalability.
- Architect and implement a novel cross-chain protocol, integrating cryptographic techniques such as TSS to enable secure and efficient cross-chain interactions.
- Collaborate with engineers, cryptographers, and researchers to design and implement protocol improvements and new features.
- Optimize and maintain the existing codebase, ensuring robust and efficient performance of the blockchain node.
- Mentor and guide other engineers in best practices for Rust development and blockchain protocol design.
- Conduct thorough code reviews, ensuring code quality, security, and be a technical bar raiser.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in the blockchain protocol, particularly those related to cross-chain interactions and cryptographic implementations.
- Contribute to the broader architectural vision of the Partner Chains Tribe, ensuring the protocol aligns with strategic goals.
What You Bring:
- 5+ years of blockchain software development experience, with at least 3+ years in Rust and preferred expertise in the Substrate framework.
- Understanding of cryptographic techniques, especially Threshold Signature Schemes (TSS), and their application in cross-chain protocols.
- Experience with Ethereum would be a plus, including understanding its architecture, smart contracts, and cross-chain interaction challenges.
- Experience in leading technical teams and mentoring engineers in protocol design and development.
- A passion for innovation and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in cross-chain interoperability. Special plus if you’ve worked with Cosmos IBC, or worked on bridging implementations in the past.
- Remote work
- Laptop reimbursement
- New starter package to buy hardware essentials (headphones, monitor, etc)
- Learning & Development opportunities
- Competitive PTO
At IOHK, we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Top Skills
What We Do
Founded in 2015, IOHK is one of the world’s pre-eminent blockchain research and engineering companies, best known for the Cardano blockchain platform
We are a fully decentralized, remote-working organization committed to the highest principles of academic rigour and evidence-based software development. The company builds high-assurance blockchain products for public and private sector clients.
Our goal is simple – to fuel our drive to be best in class by giving you the opportunity, resources and support to deliver your finest work to date. You’ll work with some exceptionally talented and friendly individuals who are always open to new ideas and ways of working.
IOHK is an advocate of decentralized remote working, with over 300 people working in more than 50 countries. Everyone has a different skill set, a different culture, and is at a different stage in their life. We aim to make collaboration between diverse people fun, exciting, and always rewarding. Many companies say they ‘think outside the box’ – for IOHK it’s more, ‘we think outside the geography’.
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