Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer

Nexus • San Francisco, CA

89d

About The Position

Nexus is innovating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and zero-knowledge cryptography to build a Layer 1 for the AI era. Our team of world-leading experts is developing the Nexus Layer 1 blockchain, Nexus zkVM, and other breakthrough products with the goal of creating a verifiable financial world. Nexus has raised $25M in Series A funding from Lightspeed, Pantera, Dragonfly, SV Angel, and more. Nexus is seeking a Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer — with the potential to grow into a Tech Lead — to design and scale the core infrastructure powering our Layer 1 blockchain and its first core application: a high-performance DEX enshrined in the L1 protocol. This role requires deep expertise in low-latency distributed systems and the ability to deliver secure, production-grade infrastructure for financial applications. You’ll work closely with Product, Research, and Security to build a system that meets the performance, reliability, and fairness requirements of modern trading systems — in a decentralized context.

Requirements

• 6–10+ years in software engineering, with at least 3+ years in infrastructure or systems roles.
• Expertise in low-latency, high-throughput systems (e.g., HFT, distributed trading platforms, real-time financial exchanges).
• Strong programming background in Rust (preferred), C++, Go, or similar systems languages.
• Deep knowledge of network protocols, concurrency, and distributed systems.
• Experience delivering secure, production-grade systems with measurable performance gains.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in DeFi infrastructure, Layer 1 blockchains, or consensus protocols.
• Familiarity with MEV prevention, transaction ordering, or fairness protocols.
• Exposure to cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, or formal verification.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement low-latency, high-throughput financial infrastructure for Nexus’s Layer 1 and DEX.
• Own major roadmap milestones: public testnet → mainnet → institutional-grade performance.
• Optimize consensus and transaction pipelines for speed, determinism, and security.
• Collaborate with cryptography and protocol teams to integrate cutting-edge zero-knowledge proofs into production systems.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and establish engineering best practices for reliability, security, and observability.
• Ensure high availability and fault tolerance for mission-critical financial systems.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful ownership in the Nexus protocol
• Health insurance for employees and their dependents.
• 401(k)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees