[Hiring] Senior Protocol Engineer @Optimum

Role Description

As a Senior Protocol Engineer at Optimum, you will design, implement, and optimize the core protocols that power our distributed Flexnode network — the foundation for high-speed, decentralized data propagation and availability.

• Design and Implement Core Protocols: Develop and maintain low-latency, fault-tolerant network and storage protocols that underpin the Flexnode distributed system.
• Optimize System Performance: Profile, benchmark, and improve network propagation, coding, and consensus pathways for throughput, consistency, and scalability.
• Contribute to Protocol Research: Collaborate with researchers to prototype and refine data availability and network coding algorithms.
• Security and Reliability: Implement secure, verifiable data flows using cryptographic primitives and consensus-integrated trust models.
• Cross-Layer Engineering: Work across the stack—from networking and distributed storage layers to node orchestration and peer discovery—to ensure coherent and efficient protocol behavior.
• Production Deployment: Lead the integration of new protocol components into live environments, ensuring robustness under dynamic network conditions.
• Collaborate: Partner with other engineers to review designs and code, and help maintain best practices for systems and protocol development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with core infrastructure software and distributed systems
• Strong proficiency in systems programming languages such as Rust, Golang, or C++
• Experience with networking protocols and distributed systems
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, architecture, and principles underlying distributed systems
• Knowledge of distributed algorithms such as Paxos, Raft, PBFT, Tendermint, vector clocks, logical clocks, TLA or other formal specifications
• Knowledge of network protocols, OSI and TCP/IP stacks, routing protocols, BGP
• Ability to analyze complex systems, identify potential issues, and develop effective solutions
• Knowledge of common security threats and best practices in network security
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization techniques
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Linux, Git, CI/CD pipelines, k8s, and systems architecture
• Strong desire for designing secure protocols, software, and algorithms that minimize trust requirements
• Understanding of Web3 protocols, infrastructure, and tradeoffs in the scaling designing space (e.g. L1s, L2s, rollups, and interoperability)

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package, including token incentives
• Remote-first work environment with flexible hours
• Collaborative team culture that values innovation and growth