Cryptography Researcher
Flashbots
About us
Flashbots started in 2020 as a research and development organization formed to mitigate the negative externalities and existential risks posed by Maximal Extractable Value (MEV). Since then, we have had an immense impact on the world of crypto through mev-geth, Flashbots Protect, MEV-Boost, MEV-Share, our open research and soon-to-be SUAVE.
Our mission is clear: illuminate, democratize and distribute.
We seek to ensure that the value created on decentralized, public blockchains is transparent and distributed. We do this by conducting cutting-edge research, building mission-critical products, and coordinating a diverse community with competing interests.
Our vibe is irreverent, anarchic, excellent, autonomous. We’re explorers, hackers, builders, thinkers. We are relaxed, composed, and at ease in the world, but beneath our suave exterior, we do not have the time or inclination to be anything but the best.
We are seeking a researcher with a PhD (or nearing completion) to join the cryptography and privacy team within Flashbots Research.
We would like to meet you if you have experience doing research on topics including:
Multi-Party Computation (MPC)
Trusted execution environments (TEEs)
Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE)
Zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs
Operating Systems (OS) and CPU architectures
Security of distributed/decentralized systems
Multi/threshold-signature schemes
What to Expect in the Role:
You will be supported to identify interesting research problems, work toward solutions alone or with collaborators, and publish your findings in industry and academic venues
You will experience maximum autonomy, allowing you to claim ownership of research areas, set goals, and deadlines without needing constant supervision
You will be expected to make your voice heard and navigate the organization to gather information or make decisions as needed
You will establish and maintain academic collaborations to broaden our research horizons
What You’ll need:
A PhD (or nearing completion) with work in a relevant area
Excellent communication skills: You will need to communicate asynchronously within the team, as well as present your work externally and to other members of the organization
Experience in a startup environment and working with cross-functional teams
The ability to write technical reports and publish research findings
Knowledge of common Web3 tech stacks, such as Ethereum
Our team operates in a fully remote environment, so you should be comfortable with that setup and effective in communicating asynchronously
- Ability to dissect and understand cryptographic protocols from theoretical descriptions
Experience identifying interesting research problems, completing research projects, and presenting results formally verbally and in writing
Nice to have:
Proficiency in software development, particularly in Python and Rust
Experience in security analysis, designing security and privacy attacks
Experience in remote-first environments, focusing on open, honest, and transparent communication
Exposure to the Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) problem space
Details that matter
Significantly above market rate equity compensation package
Unlimited PTO with a high level of freedom and autonomy for your work
Attractive health coverage package for US employees
$3000 Yearly budget for your individual learning and development goals
Work alongside the brightest minds in the crypto space
Help save the world by ensuring crypto remains decentralized, permissionless and censorship-resistant
Remote working - work from anywhere in the world
Paid travel - 2 x team on-site in different parts of the world per year plus periodic travel to events
At Flashbots, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability status.