Cryptographic Engineer - Midnight

Summary

As a Cryptographic Engineer in Applied Cryptography, you will play a vital role in developing and implementing cryptographic solutions. You'll work alongside a team of talented individuals, contributing to various projects ranging from prototyping new cryptographic products to optimizing existing ones. You will collaborate closely with software architects, product managers, and other team members to successfully deliver high-quality cryptographic solutions that meet market demands. 

You will need to have a strong foundation in engineering principles and a keen interest in cryptography. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies while continuously learning and growing in applied cryptography.

Duties

As a Cryptographic Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in implementing Zero-Knowledge (ZK) circuits tailored for integration within the Midnight chain. Your focus will involve leveraging recursive proof technologies, particularly those based on Halo2, to create proofs regarding the Midnight state. These proofs are designed to interface with other ecosystems, such as Cardano, providing a secure and efficient means to interact and exchange information across platforms. Your duties will include:

• Working with teams across time zones
• Working independently on software development tasks
• Being proactive and requiring minimal supervision or mentoring to complete tasks
• Contribute to the development and delivery of cryptographic products
• Assist in prototyping new cryptographic solutions
• Implement cryptographic primitives according to established specifications
• Collaborate with team members to review cryptographic protocols and proposed primitives
• Document code and APIs clearly and comprehensively
• Adhere to software engineering best practices during the development process

Key Competencies 

• Knowledge of ZK protocols. Familiarity with PlonK and halo2 style recursion is a plus
• Familiarity with elliptic curve cryptography
• Understanding of blockchain cryptography and constructions
• Experience with the implementation of cryptographic primitives
• Awareness of secure design principles (constant time, operational security, key material management)
• Ability to understand and interpret cryptographic papers
• Basic theoretical cryptography and mathematical knowledge

Education / Experience

• Degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field preferred
• PhD in (applied) cryptography is a plus
• Experience with programming languages such as Rust is a plus
• Familiarity with Git and version control systems

• Flexible schedule
• Remote work
• Laptop reimbursement
• New starter package to buy hardware essentials (headphones, monitor, etc)
• Learning & Development opportunities
• Competitive PTO 
• Medical Benefits

At IOG, we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.