Technical Co-Founder
OnHires, San Francisco, CA, United States
Our client is an innovative Web3 fintech infrastructure startup on a mission to revolutionize decentralized finance through our Decentralized Private Key Management ecosystem and pioneering "Key Permission Smart Contracts". Backed by $1.2M in funding and strategic partnerships with MANTRA, IDA, and Qupital, we bridge traditional finance and Web3 technology to create next-generation financial products. Our team is composed of highly skilled professionals, including co-founders from Cambridge University, who thrive on versatility, innovation, and the rapid development of MVPs (Minimum Viable Products).
Who They're Looking For
They are seeking a passionate and adaptable Technical Co-Founder / Principal Engineer with a strong background in software development and a keen interest in blockchain and Web3 technologies. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about leveraging open-source tools, enjoys hacking together solutions using existing technologies, and is excited about the opportunity to make a significant impact in a startup environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Technical Innovation: Architect and develop their Decentralized Private Key Management ecosystem, driving solution implementation and technical strategy.
- Leverage Open-Source Technologies: Utilize and customize open-source projects to build efficient, scalable solutions quickly.
- Drive Product Development: Design and implement Key Permission Smart Contract systems to enable financial product innovation.
- Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a distributed team of 2 full-time engineers and 5-7 freelancers in an agile manner.
- Strategic Contribution: Contribute to our project white paper, define the technical roadmap, and influence product direction.
- Client Collaboration: Work closely with established customers and partners to deliver solutions that meet immediate testing and usage needs.
- Adapt and Learn: Stay flexible in learning new technologies and programming languages as needed for project success.
Qualifications
Experience:
- 5-7 years of professional software development experience (not just hobby projects), creating software used by businesses.
- 3-4 years of experience in distributed systems, blockchain, or Web3 technologies.
- 2+ years in secure key management systems and cryptographic protocols.
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in at least half of the following technologies, with a willingness to learn others:
- Corda (v5.2+)
- Cryptographic systems (SSS, MPC, TSS)
- Smart contract development (Corda and Ethereum) TypeScript/JavaScript
- Java or Kotlin
- Node.js
- SQL or PostgreSQL
- React
- Bonus Points For:
- Experience with Layer 2 scaling solutions.
- Cross-chain communication protocol expertise.
- Knowledge of secure enclave/TEE implementation.
- DevOps expertise across multiple cloud platforms.
- Experience with chaos engineering and distributed systems testing.
Soft Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to new technologies.
- Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to proposing alternative solutions.
- Enthusiasm for building and experimenting with new technologies, evidenced by hobby projects or contributions to open-source communities.
- Experience in hacking together solutions using existing tools and open-source code.
Leadership Skills:
- Experience managing small teams and freelancers in an agile development environment.
- Ability to drive projects from conception to completion, ensuring timely delivery of MVPs.
- Strong communication skills in English (additional languages are a plus but not required).
Why Join Us
- Technical Innovation: Work on cutting-edge cryptographic solutions and shape the future of blockchain infrastructure.
- Strategic Impact: Join as a technical co-founder with significant influence on product direction and company strategy.
- Global Collaboration: Engage with a distributed team while enjoying a flexible work-life balance.
- Growth Potential: Benefit from substantial equity offerings and leadership opportunities.
- Developer-Centric Culture: Thrive in an environment that prioritizes technical excellence and continuous learning.
What Company Offers
- Competitive Compensation:
- Base Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 annually (depending on experience and location).
- Equity: Up to 10% ownership through stock options, contingent on performance and tenure.
- Stock options are issued as a year-end bonus, with intrinsic value equaling the specified amount if you complete the year without quitting or being terminated.
- Opportunity for leveraged rewards if the company's value increases.
- Flexible Payment Options:
- Choice of receiving compensation in HKD or stablecoins (USDC, USDT).
- Professional Growth:
- Significant influence on product direction and company strategy.
- Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and innovate rapidly.
- Collaboration with co-founders and a team of professionals from top universities like Cambridge.
- Relocation Support:
- Accommodation and flight coverage for required stays in Hong Kong.
- Family accommodation support during on-site periods.
- Work Environment:
- A developer-centric culture that values technical excellence and continuous learning.
- A flexible, remote-friendly work environment with a focus on work-life balance.