Protocol Security Engineer

Matter Labs, the team behind ZKsync, is hiring a Protocol Security Engineer to protect the core systems underpinning its zero-knowledge rollup — smart contracts, ZK circuits, and blockchain nodes. The role is listed as Global Remote.

This is a hands-on individual-contributor security role rather than a compliance or policy position: the team does security reviews, threat modeling, and incident response on live, high-value blockchain infrastructure.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct threat modeling and security reviews of Solidity contracts and broader blockchain systems
• Own the secure architecture and implementation of newly adopted components
• Track industry hacks and exploits to continuously improve Matter Labs' own defenses
• Embed secure-design practices across development teams rather than reviewing after the fact
• Apply AI systems to help scale security review work
• Participate directly in security incident investigations when they arise

Requirements:

• A demonstrated security engineering or security research background, with real threat-modeling and code-review experience
• Proficiency in at least one strongly typed language such as C++, Go, or Scala; Rust and Solidity are preferred but not required
• Deep understanding of algorithms, data structures, and their complexity
• Experience with protocol-level debugging on distributed systems
• Working knowledge of recent blockchain security incidents and how they happened
• Clear written and spoken English for cross-team communication

Compensation and work model:

• Competitive base salary with no geographic pay discounts — Matter Labs pays the same regardless of where you're based
• Performance-based variable compensation
• Long-term ZK token incentives, vesting over 4 years with a 1-year cliff
• Fully remote, with occasional travel for team gatherings and industry events

What Matter Labs offers:

• A genuinely global remote role with location-blind pay — a meaningful signal for a "Worldwide" listing, since many companies quietly pay less outside their home market
• Direct ownership of security for a major zero-knowledge rollup protocol
• Exposure to cutting-edge ZK cryptography and blockchain security work, not a generic appsec role

This is a serious, technically demanding security role aimed at engineers who already have hands-on protocol or blockchain security experience, not general software engineers looking to move into security.

To apply, use the "Apply" button on Matter Labs' Ashby-hosted job posting.