Solana Jobs in San Francisco, California, United States

Lead Blockchain Engineer (Web3/Decentralized Identity) - Start Up

Onsite - Bay Area OR Irvine, CA

3-months contract to hire

$70-$75/hr (Equity included)

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Lead Blockchain Engineer to drive the development of a next-generation decentralized ecosystem that integrates identity, payments, and real-world utility. This role is for a highly experienced engineer who is passionate about creating secure, scalable, and human-centric Web3 infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain Layer 1 blockchain protocols, smart contracts, and distributed systems that power our core digital ecosystem.
• Develop tokenized payment systems and identity verification flows, ensuring maximum security, usability, and data privacy.
• Implement and audit smart contracts for token utility, governance, and transactional logic across various business sectors.
• Integrate advanced identity verification methods and payment processing into decentralized applications.
• Ensure the security, scalability, and efficiency of all blockchain systems through rigorous testing, code audits, and adherence to industry best practices.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and QA teams to align blockchain development with the overall company roadmap and evolving user needs.
• Mentor junior engineers, contribute to engineering best practices, and help establish high standards for decentralized development.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends in Web3, DeFi, Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, and decentralized identity to guide future innovation and strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cryptography, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 5+ years of hands-on blockchain development experience across protocols, dApps, Layer 1/Layer 2, or DeFi/Web3 projects.
• Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in Java and Solidity.
• Deep Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of smart contract security, advanced cryptography, and distributed system design.
• Platform Experience: Experience working with Ethereum, Solana, or other major blockchain platforms.
• Track Record: Proven ability to deliver high-quality, production-grade blockchain systems.
• Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. (We do not sponsor work visas at this time.)