--- title: 'Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) at OP Labs' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-protocol-rust-op-labs-global-6taxt9xccxj2' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Senior Software Engineer, Protocol (Rust) at OP Labs - **Company:** OP Labs - **Location:** Global - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** remote - **Posted:** 2026-07-28 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/oplabs/46fea241-959b-470c-9676-5573c059fc56 ## Job description OP Labs builds Optimism, an open-source blockchain network that powers the next generation of financial infrastructure. Hundreds of companies, from the world's largest enterprises like Sony, Coinbase, Kraken, Uniswap, OKX, and Bitpanda to the most ambitious early-stage builders, use the OP stack to launch their own blockchains and bring their users onchain. Today, over 65% of Layer 2 activity on Ethereum runs through the OP stack. We are a small team building at the speed of the ecosystem we support. We’re remote-friendly but the NYC office is our center of gravity. We've raised $178M from a16z, Paradigm, and others. We have our work cut out for us and are looking for exceptional people to join us. Our Protocol Team designs and operates the core specifications and clients defining the stack. This creates opportunities to improve the underlying protocol while developing differentiated capabilities for enterprise chain operators. Near term projects may cover: - Developing kona-node and related Rust-based consensus-client infrastructure as a fully compatible and production-ready alternative to op-node - Implementing native account abstraction across the stack. - Developing premium protocol capabilities that support OP Enterprise We are seeking mission-driven contributors who thrive on tackling complex computer science challenges while delivering high quality code with high-velocity. What are the role responsibilities? - Own features through the full lifecycle: from architecture, implementation, and docs to deployment and monitoring. Working cross functionally to create maximum impact. - Build rigorous conformance and adversarial tests to ensure implementation compatibility. - Execute safe protocol upgrades and resolve complex availability/performance issues. - Use AI-assisted engineering tools effectively while maintaining rigorous standards for correctness, security, review, and technical ownership. ## Skills and Experience - Professional record of shipping production software and maintainable Rust systems. - Deep knowledge of Ethereum (EVM, JSON-RPC, clients) and distributed systems. - Ability to navigate ambiguity and communicate complex design decisions effectively. - (Preferred) Familiarity with op-node, kona, or Reth implementations. - (Preferred) Ability to read and navigate production Go code while migrating behavior into Rust. - (Bonus) Proficiency in Solidity for system-level smart contracts. We are aware of fraudulent individuals falsely claiming to represent OP Labs in recruitment activities. Please note: - All official communication will come from an @oplabs.co http://oplabs.co email address, or from a verified Linked profile. - We will never ask for payment, banking information, or personal identification details at any stage of our hiring process. - All current openings are listed exclusively on our official careers page https://www.optimism.io/careers and linked from our verified social profiles. - If you’re ever unsure about a communication that claims to be from OP Labs, please contact us directly at people@oplabs.co to verify authenticity. Your safety and trust are very important to us. Thank you for helping us prevent fraud. ## About OP Labs ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: OP Labs develops the OP Stack and contributes to the Optimism protocol, an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution that enables fast, secure, and low-cost transactions while maintaining Ethereum’s security guarantees. - **Entity Type**: Private (Public Benefit Corporation – PBC) – Series B (2022) - **Headquarters**: New York, New York, United States (remote‑first, worldwide HQ) - **Founded**: 2019 - **Founders**: Jing Wang (CEO), Karl Floersch (CTO), Kevin Ho (Co‑Founder), Mark Tyneway (Co‑Founder & Systems Engineer) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Blockchain infrastructure / Ethereum scaling - **Target customers**: B2B – developers, crypto‑native projects, fintechs, payment providers, and enterprises needing scalable, production‑ready blockchains - **Mission**: “Scale the world computer through innovative, open source design” – making Ethereum’s vision of decentralized collaboration a reality at global scale [oplabs.co/mission](https://www.oplabs.co/mission/) ## Products & Services - **[Optimism](https://www.oplabs.co/)**: A permissionless, Ethereum‑equivalent Layer 2 blockchain that inherits Ethereum’s security and enables orders‑of‑magnitude higher throughput and lower fees. - **[OP Stack](https://www.oplabs.co/)**: An open‑source, modular framework for building custom OP Chains. Provides Ethereum‑grade security, fast transactions, and interoperability across the Superchain ecosystem. - **[OP Enterprise](https://www.oplabs.co/)**: A managed service for institutional chain operators, delivering dedicated support, upgrades, and compliance‑ready infrastructure. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding of **USD 178.5 M** (Seed $3.5 M in 2020, Series A $25 M in 2021, Series B $150 M in 2022) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/op-labs) - **Notable Investors**: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) through a16z Bio Health, plus 3 other undisclosed investors in the Series B round [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/op-labs) - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount: 89 employees (‑1.1% YoY) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) - Active job postings: Sales Engineer, Enterprise Sales Lead, AI Lead Engineer, Executive Assistant & Office Manager [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) - Recent technical milestones: Implementation of fault proofs, Delta upgrade reducing fees, and ongoing work on the OP Stack security model [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) - Alumni and talent pool includes ex‑Coinbase, Google, Consensys, Protocol Labs, and Eigen Labs engineers [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) ## Competitive Advantages - **Open‑source OP Stack**: Modular architecture allows anyone to launch and customize their own Layer 2 chain while benefiting from shared security and upgrades. - **Ethereum‑alignment**: Deep compatibility with Ethereum ensures seamless user and developer experience, unlike many other L2s. - **Superchain ecosystem**: Interoperable network of OP Chains creates network effects and a vibrant developer community. - **Institutional‑grade offering (OP Enterprise)**: Targets large enterprises and fintechs needing regulated, high‑performance blockchain infrastructure. ## Strategic Focus - Scaling Ethereum through continuous OP Stack improvements and fault‑proof security. - Expanding enterprise adoption via OP Enterprise and managed chain services. - Growing the Superchain ecosystem to increase network value and liquidity. - Investing in AI integration (e.g., posting an AI Lead Engineer role) to blend blockchain with artificial intelligence capabilities. ## Why Work Here - **Culture & values**: Public benefit corporation with a mission‑driven focus on open‑source, decentralization, and public goods. Rated 4.0/5.0 on employer reviews with high marks for culture (4.4), compensation (4.3), and career growth (4.4) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) - **Work model**: Remote‑first, worldwide with offices in New York (28 Liberty Street) and Chesterfield, Missouri [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) - **Engineering culture**: 35 of 89 employees are in technical roles; strong talent density with hires from Coinbase, Google, Consensys, and Protocol Labs [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) - **Notable perks**: Work on cutting‑edge blockchain infrastructure; contribute to a high‑impact open‑source project with real‑world adoption; fast‑paced environment with Series B backing. ## Sources 1. [oplabs.co](https://www.oplabs.co/) – Official site and product descriptions 2. [oplabs.co/mission](https://www.oplabs.co/mission/) – Mission statement 3. [oplabs.co/community-notice](https://www.oplabs.co/community-notice/) – Legal and entity information 4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oplabs) – Company profile, funding, headcount, culture, jobs 5. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/op-labs) – Financials and investor details ## Other roles at OP Labs - [Enterprise Sales Lead, Korea](https://feeny.ai/job/enterprise-sales-lead-korea-op-labs-south-korea-3mx9v86asxtp) — South Korea - [Institutional Sales Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/institutional-sales-lead-op-labs-new-york-r6s6wnrvgwdh) — New York, NY - [Blockchain Solutions Architect](https://feeny.ai/job/blockchain-solutions-architect-op-labs-new-york-epp2bx8gy19y) — New York, NY - [Solutions Engineer, Japan](https://feeny.ai/job/solutions-engineer-japan-op-labs-japan-fz3vhz3xgjh0) — Japan - [Sr. Product Manager, Fintechs & Exchanges](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-product-manager-fintechs-exchanges-op-labs-san-francisco-xcwmqxgxptvt) — San Francisco, CA