Lead Software Engineer - Cryptography and Zero Knowledge

About Nexus

Nexus is building a world supercomputer by leveraging the latest advancements in cryptography, engineering, and science. Our team of experts is developing and deploying the Nexus Layer 1, the Nexus Network, and Nexus zkVM in support of our mission to enable the Verifiable Internet.

Nexus raised $25M in Series A funding, co-led by Lightspeed and Pantera, with participation from Dragonfly, SV Angel and more.  

We are headquartered in San Francisco, and this role will be in-person at least three days a week. You will collaborate with both our local and remote engineers and researchers.

Role Overview

The Nexus zkVM is a modular, prover-optimized, fully-specified zero-knowledge virtual machine written in Rust, focusing on performance and security. This team works alongside researchers and engineers to push the limits of verifiable computation.

Learn more here: https://docs.nexus.xyz/zkvm/index.

We're looking for a highly skilled Lead Cryptography Engineer to join our team. As a Lead Cryptography Engineer, you'll be at the forefront of innovation, implementing cutting-edge zero-knowledge proof systems and other cryptographic protocols, as well as contributing robust, safe and high-performance production-grade code, primarily in Rust.

In particular, we seek candidates with an extremely strong mathematics background, and who are excited to shape the future of computation.

Responsibilities

• Implement in Rust cutting-edge high-performance zero-knowledge proof systems such as zkSNARKs / zkSTARKs, as well as vector/polynomial commitment schemes, lookup arguments, and arithmetic circuits.

• Participate in the design, analysis, and implementation of sound arithmetizations of cryptographic primitives and the RISC-V architecture.   

• Be at the frontiers of cryptography and contribute to the latest advancements in cryptography and zero-knowledge proofs research.

• Collaborate effectively with our research and engineering teams, ensuring seamless integration with the product, partners and clients.

Requirements

• Professional experience implementing cryptographic primitives used for zero-knowledge proofs and verifiable computation.

• Expertise in arithmetizing computations for use with programmable cryptography. Fluency in implementing circuits and/or QAPs.

• 5+ years of relevant industry experience.

• Successful experience working in close collaboration with cryptography and privacy researchers.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to convey complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Willingness to embrace a high-energy startup mentality, and be ready to thrive in the dynamic and fast-paced landscape of the zero-knowledge industry and scientific advancements.

• Proficiency in Rust and/or expertise in other systems languages like C/C++/Go.

Bonus Points

• Advanced degree in a technical field.

• Experience working directly with any of the following technologies: STARKs, GKR, folding schemes, (P)IOPs, lookup arguments, lattice-based cryptography, or R1CS/AIR/Plonkish/CCS arithmetizations. 

• Entrepreneurial spirit with an interest in spearheading new projects.

• Publications at venues like CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, USENIX Security, ACM CCS, IEEE S&P, NDSS, or other top conferences and journals.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and generous equity compensation.

• Health insurance for employees and their dependents.

• Daily lunch and dinner provided at SF headquarters.

• Company-paid travel to events and conferences.

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