Candidate requirements

These are the minimum requirements a candidate must meet to be considered for this role.

Experience: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience and 3+ years of hands-on experience with core infrastructure software and distributed systems.
Technical Expertise: Strong proficiency in systems programming languages such as Rust or C++. Experience with consensus algorithms, distributed systems, and blockchain technology is highly desirable.
Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to analyze complex systems, identify potential issues, and develop effective, flexible solutions.
Security Mindset: Knowledge of common security threats and best practices in securing consensus processes.
Growth Mindset: Actively consuming research papers, designing, and investigating new solutions.
Performance Optimization: Experience with performance profiling and optimization techniques.
Collaboration and Communication: Excellent teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Desirable

Familiarity with Linux, systems automation tools, and systems architecture.
Understanding of networking, architecture, and principles underlying distributed systems.
A knack for designing secure protocols, software, and algorithms that minimize trust requirements.
Knowledge of Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT).
Self-driven, research oriented, and the ability to learn independently.
Active participation in Bitcoin/Ethereum/Blockchain projects or the open-source community is highly desirable.

Job responsibilities

Develop and Optimize Consensus Mechanisms: Design, implement, and optimize the mechanisms for consensus to enhance the throughput and stability of the Solana network.
Efficient Coordination: Develop and refine algorithms to ensure fair and efficient agreement on block production among validators.
Ensure Security and Integrity: Identify and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities within the consensus mechanisms, ensuring robust protection against emerging threats.
Scalability and Performance: Work on improving the scalability of the consensus system to handle increasing transaction volumes and validator participation without compromising on performance.
Testing and Validation: Create and execute comprehensive tests to validate the reliability and efficiency of the consensus mechanisms, including stress tests, fault injection, and performance benchmarking.
Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including core protocol engineers, security experts, and infrastructure teams, to ensure the seamless integration and functioning of the consensus components.
Documentation and Code Review: Maintain thorough documentation of the consensus protocols and conduct peer code reviews to uphold high standards of code quality and consistency.