Protocol Engineer at LayerZero Labs

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

LayerZero Labs Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Blockchain, Web3Industries

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience
  • Strong smart contract development experience in Solidity or equivalent languages, with a focus on correctness, modularity, and gas efficiency
  • Have built protocol-level infrastructure: bridges, interoperability layers, state sync systems, light clients, or equivalent
  • Write clear, well-tested, and secure code and have strong opinions on security models and upgradeability patterns
  • Familiar with distributed systems fundamentals and have good intuition around adversarial conditions in blockchain environments
  • Experience working with workflow engines
  • Previous experience with blockchain technologies, smart contracts, and decentralized finance is a strong plus

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement core protocol contracts and logic on both EVM and non-EVM chains (e.g., message validators, data availability mechanisms, proof verification)
  • Collaborate with various teams to develop new system primitives, validate security assumptions, and improve protocol robustness
  • Own components across their lifecycle: architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, and iteration
  • Contribute to high-assurance engineering practices: formal verification, invariant testing, simulation frameworks, fuzzing, and audit readiness
  • Investigate emerging cryptographic techniques and novel designs to enhance trust minimization and scalability
  • Optimize for correctness and safety in gas-constrained environments, with an emphasis on upgradeability, modularity, and composability
  • Keep pace with changes across LayerZero-supported chains to ensure cross-chain compatibility and performance

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

EVMSmart ContractsFormal VerificationFuzzingCryptographyProof VerificationGas OptimizationUpgradeabilityModularityCross-Chain Protocols

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Protocol Engineer position?

The base salary ranges from $120,000/year up to $200,000/year, based on factors like job-related knowledge and skills.

Is this Protocol Engineer role remote or does it require office work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What skills are required for the Protocol Engineer role?

Required skills include strong smart contract development in Solidity or equivalent with focus on correctness, modularity, and gas efficiency; experience building protocol-level infrastructure like bridges or interoperability layers; and familiarity with distributed systems fundamentals.

What is the team environment like at LayerZero Labs?

You'll be part of a deeply technical team working across LayerZero’s protocol and smart contract surface, contributing to novel cross-chain primitives and shaping the architecture of Web3 systems.

What makes a strong candidate for the Protocol Engineer position?

Strong candidates have a Bachelor's in Computer Science or equivalent, experience with protocol-level blockchain infrastructure, Solidity development focused on security and efficiency, and familiarity with distributed systems; experience in blockchain, smart contracts, DeFi, and workflow engines is a plus.

LayerZero Labs

Develops interoperability protocol for blockchains

About LayerZero Labs

LayerZero develops an interoperability protocol that connects over 50 different blockchains, allowing developers to create applications, tokens, and experiences that work across multiple chains. Their technology includes immutable on-chain endpoints, a configurable Security Stack, and a permissionless set of Executors, which enable the transfer of messages and assets between blockchains without censorship. This platform is tailored for developers and organizations in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors, providing them with the tools to define their own security and efficiency configurations. Unlike competitors, LayerZero focuses on seamless blockchain interoperability, facilitating the transfer of assets like tokens between chains, as seen with Curve Finance and Uniswap. The goal of LayerZero is to enhance the development and functionality of omnichain applications, making it easier for developers to build across various blockchain networks.

Vancouver, CanadaHeadquarters
2021Year Founded
$255.8MTotal Funding
SERIES_BCompany Stage
Consumer Software, Crypto & Web3Industries
51-200Employees

Benefits

Company Equity

Risks

Emergence of FXGuys could divert investor interest from LayerZero.
Regulatory scrutiny may increase due to PayPal USD integration.
Technical challenges may arise with Initia testnet and interwoven stack integration.

Differentiation

LayerZero connects over 50 blockchains, enabling omnichain applications and experiences.
Their technology includes immutable on-chain endpoints and a configurable Security Stack.
LayerZero's permissionless Executors allow censorship-resistant message transfers between chains.

Upsides

Integration with PayPal USD boosts LayerZero's stablecoin interoperability credibility.
Partnerships with Aethir and LightLink enhance LayerZero's market presence.
Ondo Finance integration highlights LayerZero's potential in real-world asset tokenization.

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