Staff Software Engineer Blockchain Protocols

Role Overview TRM Labs is a blockchain intelligence company that uses blockchain data, threat intelligence, and advanced analytics to empower governments, financial institutions, and crypto businesses to combat illicit activity and global security threats. The Blockchain Infrastructure team monitors the flows of data on blockchain networks and we are seeking a Staff Engineer with deep expertise in network protocol design and implementation. The role involves leading projects from research and ideation through protocol feasibility and production, with a focus on network or blockchain runtimes.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build highly scalable, reliable, and data-heavy distributed systems that integrate a variety of data sources.
• Build and maintain performant, production-grade systems from whiteboard to deployment.
• Research, design, and productionize proprietary network and blockchain protocols, focusing on client‑server and peer‑to‑peer (p2p) communication layers.
• Design and optimize protocol behaviors including message passing, consensus, synchronization, and fault tolerance in distributed environments.
• Work across the stack (databases, caches, application code, deployment pipelines) to resolve technical challenges end‑to‑end.
• Mentor fellow team members and participate in code reviews and design reviews.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with data scientists, designers, and product managers to define and implement services.
• Drive innovation around challenges in p2p networking, libp2p, block propagation, chain re‑org detection, and network observability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science or a related field.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing network protocols and distributed systems.
• Proficiency in lower‑level programming languages such as Rust, C++, or Java.
• Familiarity with systems and networking technologies such as TCP/IP, HTTP, gRPC, libp2p, Kafka, Kubernetes, Docker, and Elasticsearch.
• Hands‑on experience with peer‑to‑peer networking, client‑server protocol development, and real‑time communication systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; clear documentation and succinct communication are very important.
• Ability to work independently, be proactive, prioritize, and communicate to set and meet goals.
• Flexibility to coordinate across global time zones with minimal oversight.
• Strong interest in acquiring knowledge at the protocol level of blockchain and networks.
• Passion for solving complex network and protocol challenges at scale, building systems that are robust, performant, and secure.

Benefits

We offer generous benefits, including paid time off (PTO), holidays, and parental leave for full‑time employees. The position is remote‑first and expects collaboration across time zones. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job