Research Engineer

Plasma is building a purpose-designed blockchain optimized for stablecoin payments, focusing on performance, predictability, and security for real-world financial use cases. The network is fully EVM-compatible, uses Reth as its execution layer, and runs on a custom high-performance consensus protocol, PlasmaBFT. As a Research Engineer, you will work within a small research group to guide the evolution of Plasma One, the company’s stablecoin-focused neobank.

The role centers on translating ambiguous research problems into practical protocol directions, evaluating cryptographic and privacy solutions, producing detailed design specifications, and validating ideas through targeted proofs-of-concept. You will collaborate closely with engineering, product, and leadership to shape protocol-level decisions that can realistically ship.

🔹 Responsibilities

• Convert loosely defined research questions into structured plans by clarifying constraints, success metrics, and feasible solution paths.

• Evaluate build-versus-buy decisions for cryptography and privacy technologies, including confidential transaction and confidentiality mechanisms.

• Produce detailed technical design artefacts such as threat models, protocol sketches, interface boundaries, and rollout considerations.

• Develop proofs-of-concept to validate feasibility, performance characteristics, and integration risks where appropriate.

• Research hookup improvements across protocol areas including zero-knowledge systems, applied cryptography, networking, block propagation, consensus trade-offs, and latency optimization.

• Communicate technical trade-offs clearly across product, research, engineering, and platform teams.

• Operate as part of a small, high-leverage research group, prioritizing high-impact investigations and unblocking others through clear guidance.

• Maintain high standards of rigor, including security reasoning, adversarial thinking, and practical correctness.

🔹 Requirements

• Research-oriented engineer capable of taking ideas from conceptual research to practical, implementable designs.

• Comfort working with ambiguous problem statements and shaping them into concrete decisions.

• Strong understanding of cryptography, protocol design, adversarial models, and performance constraints.

• Ability to balance theoretical soundness with product and delivery considerations.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills for producing executable design documentation.

• Experience collaborating closely with leadership and cross-functional teams, including reporting into a CTO role.

🔹 Compensation & Benefits

• Above-market salary with token-based compensation.

• Comprehensive insurance coverage for employees and their families.

• Monthly wellness stipends.

• Visa sponsorship and relocation support.

• London-based office with gym access and daily lunches.

• Generous annual software and hardware allowances.

• Flexible time-off policy.

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