Protocol Researcher

Summary

Join Nethermind, a leading team of builders and researchers empowering enterprises and developers to access and build on decentralized systems. As a Protocol Researcher, you will contribute to groundbreaking research on blockchain protocol design, focusing on areas like prover, sequencer, and builder coordination, blockchain composability, and the integration of AI. This role demands a strong understanding of distributed protocol design, Ethereum, L2s, and the ability to identify and solve mechanism design problems. You'll need published work in relevant fields and excellent communication skills. We offer a fully remote position with flexible hours and equity.

Requirements

• Possess a strong understanding of distributed protocol design. Particularly, demonstrate the ability to identify the trade-offs faced by protocols when deployed on blockchains
• Ability to identify mechanism design problems and propose solutions
• Familiarity with Ethereum: how it works and why?
• Familiarity with various designs of L2s
• Published work in relevant fields
• Ability to express thoughts precisely

Responsibilities

• Participate in research on prover-, sequencer-, and builder-coordination, -design, -decentralization, and -incentivization
• Research composability and interoperability of blockchains, e.g. L1-L2, L2-L2, L1-L1
• Research integration of AI/AI agents on-chain, as well as the design and development of on-chain AI protocols

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience interacting with, or design of AI-/agentic-systems
• Knowledge about game theory
• Understanding of zero-knowledge technologies
• Understanding of legacy consensus designs

Benefits

• Fully remote
• Flexible working hours
• Equity