Senior Protocol Engineer

About Us

Optimum is building the fastest decentralized internet protocol for web3.
Our distributed Flexnode network enables high-speed data propagation, resilient storage, and real-time access across chains and users.

The long-term vision is a permissionless latency marketplace – a globally distributed network where anyone can contribute bandwidth, proximity, and reliability to accelerate decentralized applications at scale.

Backed by 1kx, Spartan, Robot Ventures, Triton Capital (fka Kraken Ventures), Finality Capital, and SNZ, Optimum combines deep research and production engineering to deliver a new standard for Web3 performance.

Learn more at getoptimum.xyz (https://getoptimum.xyz/)

Role Overview

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.
You’ll work at the intersection of systems engineering, networking, and cryptography to build scalable and verifiable infrastructure for Web3.
Your work will involve designing new mechanisms for data availability, network coding, and peer-to-peer coordination, while ensuring low-latency performance and robust fault tolerance.
You will collaborate closely with the research team to translate theoretical designs into production-grade systems and drive protocol improvements that directly impact the scalability and reliability of decentralized applications.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

Required Background

• Experience: a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience and 5+ years of hands-on experience with core infrastructure software and distributed systems.

• Technical Expertise: 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 on distributed algorithms such as Paxos, Raft, PBFT, Tendermint, vector clocks, logical clocks TLA or other formal specifications; network protocols, OSI and TCP/IP stacks, routing protocols, BGP.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to analyze complex systems, identify potential issues, and develop effective solutions.

• Security Mindset: Knowledge of common security threats and best practices in network security.

• 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.

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).

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package, including token incentives

• Remote-first work environment with flexible hours

• Collaborative team culture that values innovation and growth

If you’re passionate about Web3 and you thrive in early-stage startup environments where you can make a significant impact, we’d love to hear from you!