At Aztec, our goal is to add privacy to Ethereum.
In the current public blockchain paradigm, users and entities unknowingly broadcast data in the public, compromising privacy and security to get trustlessness.
Not only are unencrypted blockchains inherently privacy-exposing, they require significant redundancy to compute and verify the legitimacy of transactions.
Implementing scalable encryption in a public blockchain paradigm requires cutting-edge math and engineering. Thankfully, our team of scientists and engineers invented Plonk, the industry-standard zkSNARK, and Noir, the universal language of zero knowledge.
Now, we’re building a first of its kind Layer 2 with private smart contracts. This requires new cryptographic primitives, a zero-knowledge DSL for writing contracts, a privacy-friendly execution environment, a carefully designed set of circuits that prove the validity of the chain to L1, a decentralized block-building and proving mechanism, and a top-tier user and developer experience. And it’s now time to bring it to market.
We’ve raised $125 million from industry-leading investors including a16z crypto, Paradigm, Variant, Consensys, and a_capital, and we’re growing quickly.
Role Overview
As a Software Engineer in Applied Cryptography, you will contribute to building, optimizing, and securing Barretenberg, our state-of-the-art cryptography library. This is a highly technical role focused on advancing zero-knowledge (zk) technology, with opportunities to work across our stack to enable privacy-preserving solutions in Web3. Your contributions will directly influence the scalability, security, and functionality of decentralized applications.
Key Responsibilities
- Core Cryptography Development:
- Deliver robust, secure, and high-performance contributions to Barretenberg, our cryptography library.
- Optimize core protocols for speed and efficiency.
- Refactor code to enhance clarity, maintainability, and auditability.
- Feature Enablement Across the Stack:
- Implement memory-constrained proving in WASM environments.
- Update and enhance verifier smart contracts.
- Improve horizontal scaling for rollup provers.
- Contribute to Noir, our domain-specific language (DSL) for zero-knowledge circuits.
- Develop and optimize the AVM (Algebraic Virtual Machine) for non-private function execution.
- Security and Audits:
- Conduct rigorous testing and audits with a focus on secure cryptographic implementation.
- Take part in security event response, ensuring system integrity during critical events.
Qualifications
- Experience:
- Demonstrable expertise in C++ or Rust development.
- Mindset:
- Pragmatic and security-first approach to software development.
- Strong mathematical foundation with an enthusiasm for privacy-preserving technologies.
- Skills:
- Exceptional problem-solving and debugging skills.
- Well-developed organizational and team communication capabilities.
Preferred Experience
- Minimum 3 years of industry experience in software engineering.
- Knowledge of zk-SNARKs or similar zero-knowledge proof systems (e.g., STARKs).
- Strong foundation in mathematics and cryptography, including:
- Abstract algebra, elliptic curves, signature schemes, and hash functions.
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Cryptography, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
- Familiarity with security analysis, such as:
- Auditing, red teaming, or building formal security tools (e.g., fuzzers).
- Passion for the Web3 and blockchain space.
- Located in the UK or US.
What we offer:
- A highly competitive compensation package (including equity)
- Flexible and remote work environment
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays annually
- An opportunity to work at the cutting edge of blockchain with a world class cryptography and engineering team
Aztec Labs is an equal opportunity employer and we value creativity, diversity, and intellectual curiosity. If you're passionate about leveraging your creative talents to make a real-world impact, and if you want to be part of a team that's shaping the future of digital privacy, then we would love to hear from you.
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Austin Tech Scene
Key Facts About Austin Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 180,500; 13.7% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Dell, IBM, AMD, Apple, Alphabet
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, hardware, cloud computing, software, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.5 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Live Oak Ventures, Austin Ventures, Hinge Capital, Gigafund, KdT Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Silverton Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Texas, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Texas Advanced Computing Center
