Senior Protocol Engineer at Hyperlane

At Abacus Works, we are building the future of the decentralized web as the team behind Hyperlane, the industry's first permissionless interoperability layer. We believe that connecting blockchains should be as simple and open as the internet itself. By providing a modular API, we allow developers to add interoperability to any chain without the need for gatekeepers. Our security stack is designed to be fully customizable, giving builders the control they need to secure their own applications. We are looking for passionate engineers to join our mission and help us build the interchain.

The opportunity

We are looking for a Senior Protocol Engineer to join our team on a full-time basis. In this role, you will be at the heart of our technical operations, shaping the architecture that allows different blockchains to communicate seamlessly. You will work closely with our core engineering team to push the boundaries of what is possible in the blockchain space, ensuring our protocol remains secure, scalable, and efficient. This is a hybrid role based in the United States, offering you the chance to work on high-impact infrastructure that is fundamentally changing how decentralized systems interact.

A day in the life

• You will design, implement, and optimize the core smart contracts that power our interchain messaging API.
• You will contribute directly to the evolution of the Hyperlane protocol and manage the on-chain state across our various deployments.
• You will collaborate on integrations with other protocols to expand our reach and design novel economic primitives that keep our messaging systems secure.

Who you are

You are a crypto-native engineer who thrives on solving complex problems in decentralized environments. You possess a deep understanding of cryptoeconomic systems and have a proven track record of delivering high-quality code. To be successful in this role, you should have the following background:

• At least 4 years of professional software engineering experience.
• Over 2 years of hands-on experience designing, building, and maintaining smart contract protocols in production.
• Expert-level knowledge of the EVM or similar smart contract execution environments.
• A strong commitment to security, including experience with code audits and maintaining rigorous security standards.
• Fluency in English and the drive to perform at a world-class level.
• Bonus points if you have experience building in Solana, CosmWASM, or Move-based environments, or if you are familiar with our tech stack including TypeScript and Rust.

Why you'll love it here

We offer a competitive salary range of $180,000 to $280,000 USD, with final compensation determined based on your unique experience and location. Beyond the financial package, you will enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid work environment, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively while working alongside a team that is passionate about decentralization.