Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust)

As a Senior Software Engineer on the Protocol Team at OP Labs, you will design, implement, and maintain the core specifications and node clients that define the OP Stack, an open-source Layer 2 blockchain architecture powering over 65% of Ethereum's L2 activity. Your primary focus includes developing kona-node (a production-ready Rust alternative to op-node), native account abstraction, and protocol capabilities powering OP Enterprise.

What you'll do

• Lead core features through the full lifecycle: architecture, code implementation, documentation, deployment, and monitoring
• Build and maintain kona-node and related Rust-based consensus-client infrastructure fully compatible with the OP Stack
• Design adversarial and conformance test suites to guarantee cross-client compatibility and network resilience
• Execute safe protocol upgrades and resolve complex availability or performance issues in production
• Leverage modern AI-assisted development tools while upholding rigorous standards for security, technical ownership, and code review

What you bring

• A strong track record of architecting, shipping, and maintaining production-grade Rust systems
• Deep understanding of Ethereum architecture, including the EVM, client specs, and JSON-RPC APIs
• Hands-on experience developing and troubleshooting complex distributed systems
• Ability to navigate ambiguous problems, design scalable solutions, and communicate technical decisions effectively

Nice to have

• Direct experience with op-node, kona, or Reth implementations
• Ability to read and navigate production Go codebases while migrating logic into Rust
• Proficiency in Solidity for writing and auditing system-level smart contracts

What we offer

• Fully remote work from anywhere globally, with access to the NYC office if preferred
• Backing from leading Web3 investors including a16z and Paradigm ($178M raised)
• Direct influence over infrastructure powering over half of Ethereum's L2 volume

About OP Labs

OP Labs develops the OP Stack, an open-source Layer 2 blockchain architecture powering over 65% of Ethereum's L2 activity. Backed by $178M from top-tier VCs including a16z and Paradigm, OP Labs builds core infrastructure utilized by major global partners such as Sony, Coinbase, Kraken, Uniswap, and OKX to bring millions of users onchain.