Lead Architect - Advanced Cryptography

JPMorgan Chase•Palo Alto, CA

40d

About The Position

We are seeking an Advanced Cryptography Specialist with deep expertise in zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and privacy-preserving cryptographic protocols. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in cryptography or a closely related field and have several years of hands-on experience applying advanced cryptographic techniques within the financial sector. The candidate will help leverage innovative cryptography at JPMorgan Chase. As a member of the Emerging Technologies Security group within the Cybersecurity & Technology Controls organization, you will work alongside cryptographers and a group of passionate security engineers to solve complex security problems and support the deployment of cryptography-based solutions. The position requires software development experience and strong industry experience (5 years or more) in combining cryptography and security best-practices to secure complex IT infrastructure, customer-facing services, and sensitive customer and enterprise data. The Cybersecurity & Technology Controls group at JPMorgan Chase aligns the firm’s cybersecurity, access management, controls and resiliency teams. The group proactively and strategically partners with all lines of business and functions to enable them to design, adopt and integrate appropriate controls; deliver processes and solutions efficiently and consistently; and drive automation of controls. The group’s number one priority is to enable the business by keeping the firm safe, stable and resilient.

Requirements

Education: PhD in Cryptography, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a closely related field, with a dissertation or significant research in zero-knowledge proofs or privacy-preserving cryptography.
Experience: Minimum 5 years of post-PhD experience applying advanced cryptographic techniques, preferably in the financial sector (e.g., banking, payments, digital assets, or related domains).
Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of zero-knowledge proofs (e.g., zk-SNARKs, zk-STARKs, Bulletproofs, Sigma protocols).
Strong background in privacy technologies (e.g., confidential transactions, ring signatures, secure multi-party computation).
Proficiency in cryptographic protocol design, analysis, and implementation.
Experience with cryptographic libraries and tools (e.g., libsnark, Zokrates, Circom, or similar).
Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with regulatory and compliance considerations for privacy technologies in the financial sector.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

Research & Development: Lead the design, analysis and application of cryptographic protocols, with a focus on zero-knowledge proofs, privacy-preserving technologies and quantum-safe cryptography.
Solution Implementation: Architect and implement cryptographic solutions for privacy and confidentiality in financial and non-financial applications, including blockchain-based systems.
Collaboration: Work closely with other cryptographers, product, engineering, and compliance teams to integrate advanced cryptographic techniques into real-world financial products and services.
Security Assessment: Evaluate and enhance the security of existing and new cryptographic protocols, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Thought Leadership: Stay abreast of the latest research in cryptography and privacy, and represent the organization in academic and industry forums.
Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior cryptographers and engineers in advanced cryptographic concepts and best practices.
Assess existing cryptographic libraries
Evaluate existing crypto-agile approaches and tools – help define and implement JPMC-centric solutions
Assist with performance impact assessment of post-quantum cryptography solutions and deployments
Communicate ongoing work with other teams or organizations