Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer

About Nexus

Nexus is innovating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and zero-knowledge cryptography to build a Layer 1 for the AI era. Our team of world-leading experts is developing the Nexus Layer 1 blockchain, Nexus zkVM, and other breakthrough products with the goal of creating a verifiable financial world.

Nexus has raised $25M in Series A funding from Lightspeed, Pantera, Dragonfly, SV Angel, and more.

Role Overview

Remote In New York Or Hybrid In San Francisco

Nexus is seeking a Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer — with the potential to grow into a Tech Lead — to design and scale the core infrastructure powering our Layer 1 blockchain and its first core application: a high-performance DEX enshrined in the L1 protocol.

This role requires deep expertise in low-latency distributed systems and the ability to deliver secure, production-grade infrastructure for financial applications. You’ll work closely with Product, Research, and Security to build a system that meets the performance, reliability, and fairness requirements of modern trading systems — in a decentralized context.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement low-latency, high-throughput financial infrastructure for Nexus’s Layer 1 and DEX.
• Own major roadmap milestones: public testnet → mainnet → institutional-grade performance.
• Optimize consensus and transaction pipelines for speed, determinism, and security.
• Collaborate with cryptography and protocol teams to integrate cutting-edge zero-knowledge proofs into production systems.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and establish engineering best practices for reliability, security, and observability.
• Ensure high availability and fault tolerance for mission-critical financial systems.
• Mainnet launch with enterprise-grade reliability and sub-second transaction finality.
• DEX achieves low-latency trade execution comparable to centralized systems while maintaining decentralization.
• Architect and implement low-latency, high-throughput financial infrastructure for Nexus’s Layer 1 and DEX.
• Own major roadmap milestones: public testnet → mainnet → institutional-grade performance.
• Optimize consensus and transaction pipelines for speed, determinism, and security.
• Collaborate with cryptography and protocol teams to integrate cutting-edge zero-knowledge proofs into production systems.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and establish engineering best practices for reliability, security, and observability.
• Ensure high availability and fault tolerance for mission-critical financial systems.
• Mainnet launch with enterprise-grade reliability and sub-second transaction finality.
• DEX achieves low-latency trade execution comparable to centralized systems while maintaining decentralization.

What Success Looks Like

• Engineering systems and tooling enable <10 min developer onboarding to first transaction.
• High-frequency trading performance benchmarks met or exceeded.
• Engineering team scaled while maintaining high velocity and code quality.

Requirements

• 6–10+ years in software engineering, with at least 3+ years in infrastructure or systems roles.
• Expertise in low-latency, high-throughput systems (e.g., HFT, distributed trading platforms, real-time financial exchanges).
• Strong programming background in Rust (preferred), C++, Go, or similar systems languages.
• Deep knowledge of network protocols, concurrency, and distributed systems.
• Experience delivering secure, production-grade systems with measurable performance gains.

Bonus Points:

• Previous experience in DeFi infrastructure, Layer 1 blockchains, or consensus protocols.
• Familiarity with MEV prevention, transaction ordering, or fairness protocols.
• Exposure to cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, or formal verification.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary

• Meaningful ownership in the Nexus protocol
• Health insurance for employees and their dependents.

• 401(K)

Why Join Us

• Define the engineering strategy and technical foundation for the future of decentralized finance.
• Work on bleeding-edge technology at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and zero-knowledge cryptography.
• Shape the engineering culture, processes, and products at an early, high-impact stage.
• Play a pivotal role in building the next generation of financial infrastructure on Nexus Layer-1.

Nexus is committed to diversity in our workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).