Principal EVM Engineer - Smart Contracts Team

Senior/Lead EVM Engineer - Distributed Ledger Optimization

Location: Remote - US

Compensation: Competitive

We are a fast-growing software company dedicated to supporting and evolving a leading open-source, proof-of-stake distributed ledger platform. Our network is EVM-compatible and specifically engineered to meet the demands of enterprise and Web3 applications that require industry-leading speed, security, and sustainability.

We are looking for a Seasoned Java Engineer with deep blockchain protocol experience to join our Smart Contracts Team. In this role, you will be a key contributor to the evolution and optimization of our EVM implementation. You will work on a "plain Java" codebase (no heavy frameworks) where high performance, low latency, and high throughput are the baseline requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate daily on the design and implementation of core blockchain features.
• Innovate on transaction processing, execution algorithms, and EVM opcodes.
• Bridge the gap between the Ethereum roadmap and our native network innovations.
• Contribute to open-source clients focusing on VM state transitions and performance improvements.
• Implement community-requested improvement proposals (HIPs).
• Test and validate the EVM using both Ethereum community tools and native consensus node testing suites.
• Focus on Craft: Spend approximately 80% of your time designing, coding, and testing.

Requirements:
• Education: Master’s degree in Computer Science (or similar field) or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience: 10+ years of software development experience, with at least 4+ years specifically in blockchain protocol development.
• Java Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in the Java language and VM. You should be comfortable working in a "plain vanilla" Java environment without the crutch of libraries or frameworks.
• EVM Expertise: Deep architectural knowledge of EVM-based blockchains and experience writing/debugging smart contracts.
• Leadership: Experience in a Tech Lead or Team Lead capacity, with a proven ability to mentor and guide engineers up to the Staff level.
• Computer Science Fundamentals: A rigorous grasp of concurrency, performance optimization, and high-performance architectural design patterns.
• Quality Focus: Strong adherence to test-driven development (TDD), CI/CD processes, and cryptographic security principles.

Bonus Points:

• Hands-on experience with Hyperledger Besu.
• Expertise with compilers, parsers, interpreters, or Garbage Collector (GC) tuning (Hotspot/GraalVM).
• Experience with Protobuf and compile-time dependency injection (e.g., Dagger).
• Familiarity with Web3 tooling (JavaScript/TypeScript) and data-flow analysis.

Benefits:
• Competitive Compensation: High-growth salary structure.
• Equity & Tokens: Direct stake in the ecosystem’s success through equity and token grants.
• Performance Bonuses: Annual bonuses based on impact and delivery.
• Comprehensive Health: Full health insurance and 401k matching (for US-based employees).
• Innovation-First Culture: Work on a decentralized platform governed by world-leading organizations across 11 different sectors.

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing [email protected].

MLabs Ltd collects and processes the personal information you provide such as your contact details, work history, resume, and other relevant data for recruitment purposes only. This information is managed securely in accordance with MLabs Ltd’s Privacy Policy and Information Security Policy, and in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Your data may be shared only with clients and trusted partners where necessary for recruitment purposes. You may request the deletion of your data or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting [email protected].