Founding Backend Engineer

Quick Facts

• Founding Backend Engineer (equity-only initially)
• Remote; part-time to start
• Short paid-in-equity trial first, then a longer agreement if it’s a fit

Description

You’ll be the first engineer brought in by the founder to build the backend for a payment network and settlement ledger for a multi-asset world. The role focuses on a Rust ledger core (transaction processing, state/storage, validator consensus), post-quantum signatures, encrypted networking, and APIs/services banks and payment companies will integrate with. You’ll also ensure reliability, testing, and security hardening before real money moves.

Role Description

• Build and evolve the Rust-based ledger core
• Develop post-quantum cryptography components and encrypted networking
• Provide integration-ready APIs and services
• Harden the system with testing and security practices for production pilots

Responsibilities

• Implement transaction processing, state management, and storage
• Support validator consensus mechanisms
• Implement post-quantum signatures and encrypted networking
• Develop APIs and services for external integrators (banks and payment companies)
• Improve reliability through testing and security hardening

Requirements

• Strong Rust, or strong systems experience in another language plus strong appetite to learn Rust
• Experience with distributed systems, databases, or cryptography-adjacent code
• Can write tests and read code you didn’t write
• Comfort being first: no process, no manager, lots of ownership

Nice to Have

• Payments/fintech/banking integration experience (ISO 20022, ACH, wires)
• Consensus protocols or security audits

Benefits

• Equity-only compensation initially; salary may become available as cash constraints are resolved
• Contract role with equity paid on a vesting schedule (company being incorporated in Delaware)
• Potential move to cash and a larger role as funding allows