OP Labs - Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) in London

OP Labs - Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) in London

London Full-Time 65250 - 79750 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
deCircle

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Develop and enhance blockchain protocols using Rust while tackling complex challenges.
  • Company: Join OP Labs, a leading innovator in the blockchain space.
  • Benefits: Remote-friendly work environment with competitive salary and growth opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in the blockchain ecosystem.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of financial infrastructure with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: Experience in Rust and knowledge of Ethereum and distributed systems required.

The predicted salary is between 65250 - 79750 £ per year.

OP Labs builds Optimism, an open-source blockchain network that powers the next generation of financial infrastructure. Hundreds of companies, from the world's largest enterprises like Sony, Coinbase, Kraken, Uniswap, OKX, and Bitpanda to the most ambitious early-stage builders, use the OP stack to launch their own blockchains and bring their users onchain. Today, over 65% of Layer 2 activity on Ethereum runs through the OP stack.

We are a small team building at the speed of the ecosystem we support. We’re remote-friendly but the NYC office is our centre of gravity. We've raised $178M from a16z, Paradigm, and others. We have our work cut out for us and are looking for exceptional people to join us.

OP Labs builds the OP Stack, powering over 50% of Ethereum's L2 activity. Our Protocol Team designs and operates the core specifications and clients defining the stack. We are also building OP Enterprise, which enables major institutions inside and outside crypto—including Sony, Kraken, and Bitpanda—to launch and operate OP Stack chains. This creates opportunities to improve the underlying protocol while developing differentiated capabilities for enterprise chain operators.

Near term projects may cover:

  • Developing kona-node and related Rust-based consensus-client infrastructure as a fully compatible and production-ready alternative to op-node
  • Implementing native account abstraction across the stack.
  • Developing premium protocol capabilities that support OP Enterprise

We are seeking mission-driven contributors who thrive on tackling complex computer science challenges while delivering high quality code with high-velocity.

What are the role responsibilities?

  • Own features through the full lifecycle: from architecture, implementation, and docs to deployment and monitoring. Working cross functionally to create maximum impact.
  • Build rigorous conformance and adversarial tests to ensure implementation compatibility.
  • Execute safe protocol upgrades and resolve complex availability/performance issues.
  • Use AI-assisted engineering tools effectively while maintaining rigorous standards for correctness, security, review, and technical ownership.

Job requirements

  • Professional record of shipping production software and maintainable Rust systems.
  • Deep knowledge of Ethereum (EVM, JSON-RPC, clients) and distributed systems.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity and communicate complex design decisions effectively.
  • (Preferred) Familiarity with op-node, kona, or Reth implementations.
  • (Preferred) Ability to read and navigate production Go code while migrating behaviour into Rust.
  • (Bonus) Proficiency in Solidity for system-level smart contracts.

OP Labs - Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) in London employer: deCircle

At Octant, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration in the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape. Our inclusive work culture fosters creativity and empowers employees to grow through continuous learning opportunities, while our commitment to decentralisation and public goods funding ensures that your contributions have a meaningful impact. Located at the forefront of blockchain innovation, we offer unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and the chance to shape the future of governance in the crypto space.

deCircle

Contact Details:

deCircle Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land OP Labs - Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) in London

Join Local Tech Meetups

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Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to deCircle.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

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We think you need these skills to ace OP Labs - Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) in London

Rust
Ethereum
EVM
JSON-RPC
Distributed Systems
Software Development
Cross-Functional Collaboration

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at deCircle.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at deCircle and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at deCircle

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If deCircle uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.