Rust Web3 Jobs in North America

Lead Blockchain Engineer / Head of Crypto Protocols

Location: Kirkland, WA (Hybrid or Remote options possible)

Reports To: Co-Founder & CTO of hushh @Justin Donaldson

Role Overview

In this role, you will be the primary owner of the hushhcoin protocol end-to-end—from ideation and architectural choices to mainnet launch and post-launch governance. You will ensure hushhcoin is robust, secure, and compliant, and you will integrate privacy-preserving features that allow hushhcoin to function not only as a stablecoin but also as a unique platform for “human brand value” (akin to a “Zestimate” for an individual).

This position requires mastery of smart contract development, stablecoin peg mechanisms, zero-knowledge proofs (or related privacy tech), and an ability to navigate both the technical and regulatory complexities of launching a 1:1 USD-pegged token.

Key Responsibilities

1. Token Architecture & Protocol Design

• Design the hushhcoin protocol for stability, security, and modularity, leveraging best practices from existing stablecoins (e.g., USDC, DAI, GHO).

• Determine the optimal collateralization model (fully fiat-backed, crypto-collateralized, or hybrid) to maintain a reliable USD peg.

• Integrate identity and privacy features (e.g., soulbound tokens, ZK proofs) to track and update each user’s public “brand value” in a privacy-preserving manner.

2. Smart Contract Development & Audit

• Implement core token smart contracts (ERC-20 for hushhcoin, additional contracts for collateral vaults, oracles, and governance).

• Write, review, and maintain secure Solidity or Rust code (depending on chain) and ensure thorough testing.

• Collaborate with third-party auditors to complete security reviews and compliance checks prior to mainnet launch.

3. Blockchain Infrastructure & Scalability

• Evaluate and select the optimal blockchain deployment strategy (Ethereum L1 vs. L2 solutions like Arbitrum/Optimism, or other chains like Solana or custom Cosmos-based).

• Develop strategies for bridging hushhcoin across multiple ecosystems, ensuring high throughput and low fees where appropriate.

4. Peg Stability & Liquidity Management

• Design and manage redemption/mint mechanisms, ensuring hushhcoin maintains a $1.00 peg under stress.

• Oversee the creation and seeding of liquidity pools on DEXes (Uniswap, Curve) and work with market makers to ensure hushhcoin is tradable with minimal slippage.

• Implement oracles and potential yield strategies (ERC-4626 vaults) to manage reserves in a transparent, fully-audited manner.

5. Privacy & Data Integration

• Integrate advanced cryptography (zero-knowledge proofs, secure multi-party computation) to protect user data in the hushh ecosystem.

• Collaborate with hushh’s data and AI teams to allow for privacy-preserving updates of each user’s brand-value token/score.

• Ensure user data vaults and on-chain/off-chain interfaces comply with relevant privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA).

6. Regulatory & Compliance Coordination

• Work closely with legal counsel to ensure hushhcoin issuance meets regulatory requirements (FinCEN, SEC, MiCA in EU, etc.).

• Help design and implement robust KYC/AML procedures for hushhcoin minting/redemption processes.

• Provide technical inputs for ongoing audits, compliance disclosures, and licensing efforts.

7. Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a small team of blockchain developers, DevOps engineers, and cryptography specialists.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, AI, Legal, and Marketing teams to ensure hushhcoin integrates smoothly into hushh’s broader data/value ecosystem.

• Drive best practices in code quality, security, and project management.

8. Post-Launch Maintenance & Iteration

• Establish ongoing monitoring systems to track hushhcoin’s peg stability, liquidity, and security.

• Oversee protocol upgrades and governance proposals as hushh evolves from a centralized to a more decentralized structure (if applicable).

• Manage incident response plans for potential exploits, black swan events, or compliance shifts.

Required Qualifications & Experience

1. Blockchain & Smart Contracts

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in blockchain engineering, specifically with Solidity (Ethereum) or Rust (Solana/Cosmos).

• Demonstrable end-to-end experience taking a crypto project from prototype to mainnet launch (bonus if it was a stablecoin or DeFi protocol).

• Deep understanding of ERC-20, ERC-721/1155, ERC-4626 vault standards, or equivalent on non-EVM chains.

2. Stablecoin & Tokenomics

• Proven track record or strong academic/research background in tokenomics—designing peg mechanisms, collateral strategies, and liquidity incentives.

• Familiarity with leading stablecoins (USDC, DAI, GHO, FRAX) and their strengths/weaknesses.

• Knowledge of oracle design (Chainlink, Band, Pyth) and how to maintain trustless price feeds.

3. Security & Auditing

• Strong grasp of smart contract security—common vulnerabilities (reentrancy, flash loan attacks, oracle manipulation) and mitigations.

• Experience working with third-party auditors, plus a track record of shipping audited code in production.

• Ability to respond to security incidents with composure and leadership.

4. Privacy & Cryptography

• Experience or demonstrated interest in zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-SNARKs, zk-STARKs, Bulletproofs) or privacy-preserving protocols (e.g., Aztec, zkSync).

• Familiarity with on-chain/off-chain data encryption, secure enclaves, or multi-party computation is a big plus.

5. Regulatory Awareness

• Understanding of current crypto regulatory landscapes—particularly stablecoin regulation in the U.S. (FinCEN, SEC) and EU (MiCA).

• Comfortable implementing KYC/AML flows if necessary, and working with legal teams on compliance frameworks.

6. Collaboration & Communication

• Excellent communication skills to explain complex blockchain topics to non-technical stakeholders and potential investors.

• Track record of working on cross-functional teams—close collaboration with product managers, designers, AI/ML engineers, or compliance leads.

7. Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field. Equivalent hands-on experience is also valued.

• Additional certifications (e.g., in cryptography, cybersecurity, or blockchain engineering) are a bonus but not mandatory.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• DeFi Protocol Experience: Prior experience shipping or maintaining a DeFi protocol (e.g., liquidity pools, yield optimizers).

• AI Integration: Familiarity with building APIs or protocols that interface with AI/ML services, especially around data ownership and preference modeling.

• DAO Governance: Experience designing or implementing on-chain governance frameworks (Snapshot, Tally, Aragon, etc.).

• Product Mindset: Ability to think beyond code—envision how hushhcoin can integrate into consumer-facing apps, brand marketing portals, or data-sharing workflows.

• Start-up Experience: Comfort in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment with minimal bureaucracy and high autonomy.

What Success Looks Like

• Security & Trust: The hushhcoin protocol launches with robust audits, minimal vulnerabilities, and a track record that gains user and market trust.

• Stable Peg: Hushhcoin maintains a consistent $1.00 peg under both normal and stressed market conditions, with healthy on-chain liquidity.

• Seamless Identity Integration: A working soulbound token or privacy-preserving identity layer that updates each user’s “brand value” dynamically, without exposing personal data.

• Compliance & Credibility: Positive regulatory posture, with hushhcoin recognized as a legitimate, fully-backed stablecoin by major jurisdictions.

• Ecosystem Adoption: Hushhcoin is integrated into hushh’s broader product ecosystem (user data vaults, brand marketing tools, AI personalization) and fosters a growing user/brand community.

• Team Growth & Leadership: A strong, motivated engineering team delivering on-time milestones while upholding best practices in code quality and security.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should provide:

• Résumé highlighting relevant blockchain/stablecoin experience.

• GitHub/Portfolio links demonstrating past projects (especially any 0→1 token launches).

• Short Cover Letter explaining why hushhcoin’s vision resonates and a brief mention of relevant cryptographic/stablecoin projects you have contributed to.

Send materials to [email protected] with “Lead Blockchain Engineer – hushhcoin” in the subject line. We look forward to discussing how you can help bring hushhcoin to life!

About hushh

Hushh is building a privacy-first data ecosystem, empowering users to own and monetize their personal preferences while enabling brands to engage with authenticity and precision. Our new stablecoin—hushhcoin—is at the heart of this ecosystem, representing secure, privacy-preserving value for both individuals and businesses. Join us to pioneer the next frontier of ethical data commerce and stablecoin innovation.