Location: Concord, CA
Salary: $69.00 USD Hourly - $74.00 USD Hourly
Description: Lead Specialty Software Engineer (Protocol Engineer)We are not accepting C2C or 1099 arrangements.Location: Concord, CA
Employment Type: Contract
Sponsorship: Candidates requiring current or future employment sponsorship cannot be considered.
About the RoleWe are seeking a
Lead Specialty Software Engineer (Protocol Engineer) to help build a next-generation Digital Asset Platform that addresses one of the most complex challenges in institutional finance: enabling regulatory compliance while maintaining transaction privacy.
In this role, you will design and develop the platform's core settlement engine, working at the intersection of distributed systems, cryptography, and blockchain technologies. You will translate advanced mathematical concepts into secure, scalable, production-grade software and play a key role in shaping the architecture of a high-impact financial platform.
Responsibilities- Architect and develop blockchain-based applications using Go, Cosmos SDK, and CometBFT (Tendermint).
- Design and implement core protocol and settlement infrastructure for a digital asset platform.
- Build and optimize privacy-preserving cryptographic solutions, including Pedersen Commitments, Bulletproofs, and related zero-knowledge proof technologies.
- Develop custom ABCI++ extensions, including PrepareProposal and Vote Extensions, to support Multi-Party Computation (MPC) workflows.
- Design custom state machine architectures that manage homomorphically encrypted balances rather than traditional plaintext account models.
- Optimize cryptographic operations and distributed system performance for scalability, low latency, and high throughput.
- Build secure auditing and reporting mechanisms, including off-chain query layers and permissioned regulatory access tools.
- Analyze complex engineering challenges and contribute to large-scale planning efforts.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver secure and compliant software solutions.
- Ensure adherence to organizational policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.
Required Qualifications- 5+ years of software engineering experience or equivalent demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, or education.
- 3+ years of backend or systems engineering experience.
- Expert-level proficiency in Go (Golang).
- Experience with distributed systems, BFT consensus algorithms, peer-to-peer networking, and state replication.
- Hands-on experience with Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).
- Strong understanding of software engineering principles, architecture, and performance optimization.
Preferred Qualifications- Deep expertise with Cosmos SDK and CometBFT, including custom module development and consensus-layer modifications.
- Experience with:
- YugaByte and/or PostgreSQL
- Liquibase
- Pedersen Commitments and homomorphic encryption concepts
- Zero-Knowledge Proofs, including Bulletproofs or Sigma protocols
- Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and Verifiable Secret Sharing (VSS)
- Ristretto255 or cryptographic frameworks such as gnark-crypto
- Proven ability to interpret academic research papers and convert mathematical specifications into production-ready software.
- Knowledge of privacy-preserving ledger architectures, including account-based and UTXO-based models.
- Experience within fintech, payment systems, capital markets, or high-frequency trading environments.
Key Technical Skills- Go (Golang)
- Cosmos SDK
- CometBFT (Tendermint)
- Blockchain Protocol Engineering
- Distributed Systems
- Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
- Zero-Knowledge Proofs
- Pedersen Commitments
- Bulletproofs
- Multi-Party Computation (MPC)
- YugaByte
- PostgreSQL
- Liquibase
Why Join This Team?- Work on highly complex engineering challenges that address critical privacy and compliance requirements in institutional finance.
- Develop technology that secures high-value financial transactions.
- Influence architectural decisions, technology selection, and protocol design.
- Collaborate with experts in distributed systems, cryptography, and financial technology.
- Contribute to innovative blockchain-based solutions designed for enterprise-scale adoption.
Benefits FeaturedMedical, Dental , and Vision Insurance is offered to qualified candidates.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance are available to qualified candidates who meet eligibility requirements.
By providing your phone number, you consent to: (1) receive automated text messages and calls from the Judge Group, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively "Judge") to such phone number regarding job opportunities, your job application, and for other related purposes. Message & data rates apply and message frequency may vary. Consistent with Judge's Privacy Policy, information obtained from your consent will not be shared with third parties for marketing/promotional purposes. Reply STOP to opt out of receiving telephone calls and text messages from Judge and HELP for help.
Contact: This job and many more are available through The Judge Group. Please apply with us today! 
