Squads is hiring a

Web3 Senior Protocol Engineer

Senior Protocol Engineer

About Squads

Squads builds smart account infrastructure on Solana. Our protocol is used by 350+ teams, secures $15B+ in assets, and has processed $3B+ in stablecoin transfers. We're building the foundational layer for programmable wallets, payment systems, and consumer applications on SVM.

Role Overview

We're hiring a Senior Protocol Engineer to help design and build the core programs that power our smart account infrastructure. You'll work on protocol primitives, state-efficient program architecture, and account abstraction patterns that need to be secure, composable, and production-grade.

What You'll Work On

• Design and implement Solana programs using framework-based or native approaches

• Build CU-efficient programs with state compression, PDA optimization, and advanced runtime features

• Shape protocol architecture: account abstraction primitives, transaction execution models, and multi-program composability

• Integrate with external protocols and payment systems while maintaining security invariants

• Participate in security reviews and establish best practices for high-value program development

• Contribute to SDKs and testing frameworks

Requirements

• 2+ years production Rust experience with systems programming background

• 2+ years building Solana programs (Anchor/native/equivalent frameworks)

• Deep understanding of the Solana runtime, its unique constraints, the account model, and nested transaction execution mechanics

• Experience designing multi-program systems, functional & efficient state, and overall protocol architecture

• Track record optimizing for compute units, storage costs, and around runtime limits

• Strong security mindset: familiar with defensive patterns and natural preference towards simplicity over complexity

Nice-to-Have

• Experience building Rust REST APIs with Axum

• Familiarity with Pinocchio or low-level Solana syscall libraries

• Open-source contributions to Solana tooling or protocols

• Background in account abstraction or intent-based systems

• Prior work on payments infrastructure or stablecoin protocols

What We're Looking For

You care about the details — CUs, account sizes, rent optimization. You can navigate complex protocol interactions and debug subtle CPI edge cases. You write clear, well-tested code and stay current with Solana runtime developments.

You'll be working on infrastructure that secures billions in value and shapes how developers build smart accounts on Solana.

Benefits

• We’re offering competitive and generous compensation, with meaningful equity and upside.

• Unlimited, flexible PTO

• Flexible work schedule

• Company laptop and allowance for any necessary home equipment

• Two company-paid off-sites per year

Our values

• Kindness Matters. We show kindness and respect to all users, customers, and team members in every interaction (internal and external). Being kind compounds and strengthens our relationships.

• Craftsmanship Excellence. We deeply care about the quality of everything we create. Every contribution, regardless of size, must meet our high standards for excellence.

• Radical Transparency. We communicate openly and honestly with each other. Respectful candor is valued over comfortable silence, as we can't afford to miss insights due to fear of speaking up.

• Bias for Action. We believe action produces information. At no more than 20% completion of a project we must have a working prototype to test and iterate on.

• Speed with Purpose. We move with urgency and focus. Slow and expensive usually go together. Good, fast, and cheap outcomes are perfectly achievable through disciplined execution.

• Professional Integrity. We never speak negatively about competitors, partners, vendors, or others. Such behavior reflects insecurity and provides no value.

• Creative Problem-Solving. We value innovative thinking that challenges conventions. The best solution aligns with the task at hand, not necessarily with how things have always been done.

• Team Over Ego. We share both successes and failures collectively. No individual's ego should surpass our commitment to the product and its impact.

• Results Over Hierarchy. We do not care about titles in this company. No politics, no hierarchy. All we care about is winning together.

Research shows that women are less likely than men to apply for roles unless they feel they meet every single requirement. At Squads, we don’t expect that. Our job descriptions are a roadmap, not a checklist. If you believe your background aligns with most of what we’re looking for—around 75%—we encourage you to put yourself forward. Skills can be developed, and we value the perspectives that come from different experiences.