Director of Research

Summary

Join the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) as a Research Director and help advance open technology that supports equitable access to the global financial system. Shape the research vision by defining and leading a long-term scientific research agenda. Foster deep academic and industry collaboration by building strong partnerships with top researchers and institutions. Balance innovation with exploration by overseeing a portfolio of research efforts. Build and support a strong, mission-driven research team by recruiting and developing a diverse group of research scientists. Translate insights into real-world impact by ensuring research outcomes inform product strategy and ecosystem standards. Engage with the global research community by representing SDF at conferences and contributing to the broader discourse on decentralized systems.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, or a related field
• 10+ years of research experience in academia (e.g., tenured or tenure-track faculty) or industry (e.g., senior research scientist or director-level role)
• Strong track record of high-impact contributions, such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, open-source projects, or foundational technical work
• Demonstrated experience leading research programs or teams, including setting strategy and managing multi-year initiatives

Responsibilities

• Shape the research vision : Define and lead a long-term scientific research agenda that supports SDF’s mission while contributing to broader conversations in computer science and decentralized systems. Identify both mission-aligned applied challenges and foundational open problems to guide internal research and community engagement
• Foster deep academic and industry collaboration : Build strong, lasting partnerships with top researchers, labs, and institutions. Support initiatives that lead to joint publications, open-source contributions, and shared advancement of knowledge—both within and beyond the Stellar ecosystem
• Balance innovation with exploration : Oversee a portfolio of research efforts ranging from mission-critical applications to blue-sky investigations in areas such as cryptography, distributed systems, and incentive design. Champion rigorous thinking that leads to practical outcomes and advances the state of the art
• Build and support a strong, mission-driven research team : Recruit and develop a diverse group of research scientists and applied researchers, from early-career PhD interns to experienced domain experts. Create a supportive environment where a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and research styles can thrive
• Translate insights into real-world impact : Ensure that research outcomes inform product strategy, ecosystem standards, and protocol development—helping strengthen Stellar’s role in building accessible, resilient financial infrastructure
• Engage with the global research community : Represent SDF at conferences, academic workshops, and standards bodies. Contribute to the broader discourse on decentralized systems and financial inclusion through publications, presentations, and thought leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in both academic and applied research settings, with an ability to translate deep technical insights into practical impact
• Familiarity with open-source software development practices and/or participation in open standards communities (e.g., IETF, W3C)
• Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions, including with academic labs, research consortia, and industry partners
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders, represent the organization publicly, and contribute to technical and policy discussions
• Commitment to mentoring and supporting researchers across career stages, and to fostering a collaborative and inclusive research culture
• Interest in or experience with the societal, economic, and ethical dimensions of decentralized systems, particularly in the context of financial access and inclusion

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental & vision coverage with most plans covered at 100% for the employee + any dependents
• Flexible time off + 15 company holidays including a company-wide holiday break
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for both non-birthing and birthing parents, as well as up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave for birthing parents
• Gym reimbursement ($80 per month)
• Life & ADD (up to $50K)
• Short & Long term disability
• 401K with 4% match
• Health & Dependent Care FSA Accounts
• Commuter benefits with $250/month employer contribution
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with monthly employer contribution
• Family building benefits through Kindbody
• Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace)
• L&D budget of $1,500/year
• Daily lunch and snacks in office
• Company retreats