Founding Engineer

San Francisco
Full-TimeSan Francisco

Job Description

About Unto LabsUnto Labs is a team of low-level engineers building the next generation of blockchain technology. We push distributed systems to the physical limits of modern hardware.

About the roleWe're seeking a Founding Blockchain Engineer to take on the toughest challenges in distributed systems and high-performance computing. You'll be responsible for designing and building key parts of our Layer 1 blockchain, focusing on getting the best performance from commodity servers. As a member of our fast-paced team, you'll work on the entire modern blockchain stack, including core cryptography, consensus, distributed systems, and performance issues.

Responsibilities• Build and test high-performance sub-systems from scratch in C, focusing on cryptographic operations, consensus mechanisms, and networking protocols

  • Design systems for robust process isolation
  • Implement advanced error correction and data recovery mechanisms
  • Create comprehensive benchmarking suites and performance testing frameworks

QualificationsTechnical Requirements• Deep expertise in systems programming languages (C, C++, Rust) with a focus on performance optimization

  • Experience and understanding of modern CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and low-level optimization techniques
  • Understanding of distributed systems and consensus algorithms
  • Expertise in high-performance networking and protocol design

Cultural Requirements• Crave ownership and seek to make a lasting impact

  • Thrive in ambiguous environments and can create structure from chaos
  • Proactively seek opportunities beyond your initial scope
  • Strong bias for action and ability to move fast
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work closely with technical teams
  • Excited about being one of the first employees at a fast-growing startup
  • Willing to be based in San Francisco

Why join us?• Be at the forefront of blockchain technology, working on next-generation performance optimization

  • Work with a team of experts from leading high-frequency trading and blockchain companies
  • Shape the architecture of a system designed to process millions of transactions per second
  • Access to cutting-edge hardware and development tools

Compensation and Benefits• Competitive salary ($180k-$250k+ USD)

  • Significant equity and upside potential
  • Flexible work environment
  • Unlimited vacation policy
  • Health insurance
  • Hardware and development tool allowance
  • Conference and learning budget