Protocol Engineer

Web3 has created a new era of decentralised finance, democratising financial access. However, it has fallen short in generating mass consumer applications and remains largely centered around finance. We believe blockchain technology is a cornerstone for the future of new, open Internet applications.

Today, there are limits to what you can build on-chain. Many factors constrain this, from the cost of running applications to the fundamental performance limitations of existing blockchains. We believe that new technologies can unlock a new class of real-time applications that normally must be built on Web2 foundations. Enabling these systems to be built on-chain will allow the free movement of businesses and users between online platforms, creating what we call a true virtual society.

We are building Somnia, a fast and cost-effective EVM-based blockchain, to achieve this. Somnia is a layer-one blockchain with full EVM compatibility, capable of processing over 400,000 transactions per second with sub-second latency and low fees. This will unlock a new wave of on-chain applications. Initially, we are focusing on gaming, metaverse, and social experiences. But we are not even 100% certain of what can be built with the technology we are creating.

Somnia is being developed by Virtual Society Foundation, an independent organisation initiated by Improbable, a British start-up that has been at the forefront of building virtual worlds for over a decade. VSF received initial funding from MSquared, which raised $150 million in funding from a16z crypto, SoftBank, Mirana Ventures, CMT Digital, and SIG.

We are looking for experienced blockchain protocol engineers to be part of the founding core team, designing and building out our high performance stack.

Your Opportunity:

• Design and implement our core L1 blockchain protocol.

• Optimise the core stack, finding and improving our key bottlenecks.

• Driving the project towards an external devnet and beyond.

• Supporting and operating the protocol once it is externally launched.

• Stay abreast of the latest developments in blockchain technology.

Why You're Made For This:

• Direct experience building and launching an L1 or L2 blockchain.

• Strong proficiency in C, C++ or Rust, with professional experience.

• Experience with developing high-performance software and networked systems.

• Ability to drive an outcome and unblock yourself and those around you with high productivity.

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

About Us:

We are determined to foster an environment where people can do their best work and feel like they belong. We believe a healthy culture, strong values and contribution from a diverse range of individuals will help us to achieve success.

We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any other legally protected status.