At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise smart contracts, build DeFi products, and conduct security audits.
- Company: Join a cutting-edge team at Symbiotic, shaping the future of onchain finance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Be part of a revolutionary project in neofinance with real-world impact.
- Qualifications: Expertise in Solidity and strong understanding of DeFi protocols required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About Symbiotic
Symbiotic is the infrastructure beneath collateral markets, where capital can secure financial obligations, remain productive, and be enforced by code. By changing the economics of onchain collateral, Symbiotic enables new categories of neofinance applications that were previously impossible to build - including credit, insurance, RWA liquidity, and more. As institutional capital increasingly moves onchain, Symbiotic is positioned to become the coordination layer connecting capital and risk across the onchain economy. Backed by Paradigm, Pantera, Cyber.fund, and Coinbase Ventures, we power 80+ vaults, 74,000+ active stakers, and 111 operators - with Chainlink, Nexus Mutual, and Cap Labs among the teams live in production.
Our People
We’re a tight-knit team of experienced builders working at the forefront of financial infrastructure. Our backgrounds span high-growth tech start-ups, leading crypto companies, major banks, insurers, and financial institutions. We work with ownership, a high bar for craft, and the urgency of an early-stage company - in an environment where people are trusted to take initiative and supported to do their best work. We’re looking for talented professionals to join us at a defining moment, as Symbiotic helps shape the next generation of onchain finance.
About the role
We're building on-chain collateral markets for both traditional and crypto-native finance. We're scaling our core protocol and the products built on top of it, and you'll work across our existing smart contract codebase — core contracts, core extensions, and middleware SDK — while building new modules from the ground up. Your work will span extending mature, in-production systems and architecting greenfield financial products designed and built from scratch on our stack.
What You'll Do
- Design, write, optimize, and audit smart contracts in Solidity, with a focus on performance, clarity, and security
- Build DeFi primitives from scratch — vaults, lending mechanics, staking, and related protocol-level components
- Develop adapters, connectors, and plugins for our Liquid Lane product across varying levels of complexity
- Contribute to the design and buildout of greenfield financial products.
- Conduct and support security audits, addressing vulnerabilities and hardening contracts against common attack vectors
- Where needed, build beyond the contract layer, leveraging AI as a multiplier: simple frontends, indexers, internal tooling, to move a piece of work end to end
Who You Are
- Expert in Solidity, with deep knowledge of EVM internals: execution flow, memory/storage models, gas mechanics, and precompiles
- Strong grasp of DeFi protocols and primitives — how lending protocols, DEXes, stablecoins, work, where they break, and the common pitfalls of building them
- Strong security mindset: familiar with common attack vectors, contract optimization, and the audit process
- Comfortable working across the stack when a task calls for it — you become a fullstack developer if the job requires it
- Solid computer science fundamentals — algorithms, low-level reasoning about how code executes
Nice to Have
- Deep specialist knowledge in one protocol domain, even if exposure to others is lighter — we value genuine depth/expertise
- Experience in compiler development
- Experience in Rust, Go, C/C++
- Practical coding experience in Python and JavaScript/TypeScript
- Exposure to Yul, Vyper, or Huff
Senior/Staff Smart Contract Engineer in London employer: Symbiotic
At Symbiotic, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our team to excel in the rapidly evolving world of onchain finance. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our supportive environment, where talented professionals are encouraged to take initiative and contribute to groundbreaking projects. Located at the heart of the financial technology landscape, we offer unique opportunities to work alongside industry leaders and shape the future of financial infrastructure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Staff Smart Contract Engineer in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Symbiotic. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Staff Smart Contract Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Symbiotic.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Symbiotic's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Symbiotic
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Symbiotic.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Symbiotic will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Symbiotic employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
