Software Engineer – Formal Verification

About Nexus
Nexus is building a world supercomputer by leveraging the latest advancements in AI, cryptography, engineering, and science. Our team of world-leading experts is developing and deploying the Nexus Layer 1 blockchain and Nexus zkVM (zero-knowledge virtual machine) in support of our mission to enable the Verifiable Internet.
Nexus raised $25M in Series A fundingfrom Lightspeed, Pantera, Dragonfly, SV Angel, and more.

We are headquartered in San Francisco, and this role will be in-person with the rest of the Nexus team.

Software Engineer – Formal Verification

As a Software Engineer focused on Formal Verification, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the mathematical correctness of the Nexus system. You’ll work closely with the research, zkVM, and Layer 1 engineers to formally verify core components—from consensus mechanisms and cryptographic primitives to critical smart contracts.

If you’re someone who obsesses over catching bugs before they exist and thrives on rigor and precision, this role is for you.

Responsibilities

• Apply formal verification to the zkVM, Layer 1 consensus, and core protocol libraries.

• Collaborate with cryptographers and engineers to model and verify core primitives.

• Analyze vulnerabilities in other protocols and proactively guard against them.

• Ensure correctness in a modular, evolving codebase without slowing innovation.

Requirements

• Experience with proof assistants like Coq, Lean, Isabelle, F*, K, or equivalent.

• Familiarity with formal methods applied to blockchains, distributed systems, or cryptographic protocols.

• A deep curiosity about correctness and mathematical guarantees.

• Comfort working alongside research and engineering teams.

• Embrace AI as a core part of how you work, think, and build.

Bonus Points

• Research experience in formal verification for cryptographic or blockchain protocols.

• Contributions to open-source formal verification tools.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and generous equity compensation.

• Health insurance for employees and their dependents.

• Daily lunch and dinner provided at SF headquarters.

• Company-paid travel to events and conferences.

Nexus is committed to diversity in our workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).