Optimum is hiring a Senior Protocol Engineer to design, implement, and optimize the core protocols that power our distributed Flexnode network. You'll work at the intersection of systems engineering, networking, and cryptography to build scalable and verifiable infrastructure for Web3.

What You'll Do

Design and implement low-latency, fault-tolerant network and storage protocols for the Flexnode distributed system.
Profile, benchmark, and improve network propagation, coding, and consensus pathways for throughput, consistency, and scalability.
Collaborate with researchers to prototype and refine data availability and network coding algorithms.
Implement secure, verifiable data flows using cryptographic primitives and consensus-integrated trust models.
Work across the stack—from networking and storage layers to node orchestration—to ensure coherent and efficient protocol behavior.
Lead the integration of new protocol components into live environments, ensuring robustness under dynamic network conditions.
Partner with other engineers to review designs and code, and help maintain best practices for systems and protocol development.

What We're Looking For

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
5+ years of hands-on experience with core infrastructure software and distributed systems.
Strong proficiency in systems programming languages such as Rust, Golang, or C++.
Strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, architecture, and principles underlying distributed systems.
Knowledge of distributed algorithms such as Paxos, Raft, PBFT, Tendermint, vector clocks, logical clocks, or formal specifications like TLA+.
Knowledge of network protocols, OSI and TCP/IP stacks, routing protocols, and BGP.
Ability to analyze complex systems, identify potential issues, and develop effective solutions.
Knowledge of common security threats and best practices in network security.
Experience with performance profiling and optimization techniques.
Excellent teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Nice to Have

Familiarity with Linux, Git, CI/CD pipelines, k8s, and systems architecture.
Strong desire for designing secure protocols, software, and algorithms that minimize trust requirements.
Understanding of Web3 protocols, infrastructure, and tradeoffs in scaling design (e.g., L1s, L2s, rollups, and interoperability).