Join Ephemera, Build the Future of Onchain Messaging
We are seeking an experienced Staff-level Smart Contracts Engineer to lead the design, development, and maintenance of mission-critical blockchain systems with a focus on tokenomics. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of smart contracts – from architecture and implementation to audits, deployment, and upgrades.
What You’ll Be Working On
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Writing and deploying smart contracts that govern the economics of the XMTP protocol
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Working with the team to design novel incentive models to reward offchain node operators and collect messaging fees
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Design & Implement Tokenomics Contracts: Lead the development of complex token contracts (ERC-20, staking, governance, vesting, distribution, liquidity management) tailored to evolving protocol needs
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Upgradability & Governance: Architect upgradeable contracts (e.g., via OpenZeppelin proxy patterns) ensuring safe, controlled, and transparent change management
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Security & Audits: Champion security best practices, lead internal reviews, coordinate with third-party auditors, and implement continuous monitoring of deployed contracts
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Production-Grade Operations: Manage large-scale funds in production environments, ensuring availability, integrity, and protection of treasury and user assets
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Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with economics, product, and legal teams to translate tokenomics know-how into practical, deployable smart contract systems
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Mentorship & Standards: Establish engineering best practices for smart contract development, mentor other engineers, and raise the bar for security, efficiency, and maintainability
Your Experience
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Minimum of 7+ years of professional experience as a software engineer, staff level
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Extensive experience designing, building, and maintaining cryptoeconomic systems
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Architected and designed complex protocols onchain
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Experience working with auditors to find vulnerabilities
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Writing well-tested Solidity code
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Qualifications
Technical Expertise
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5+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 3 years focused on Solidity / EVM-based smart contracts
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Proven track record of deploying and maintaining production-grade contracts managing significant funds
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Deep familiarity with tokenomics mechanisms: staking, bonding curves, vesting, emissions schedules, treasury management
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Strong understanding of EVM internals, gas optimization, and advanced contract design patterns
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Hands-on experience with upgradable contracts, proxy patterns, and governance-controlled upgrade systems
Security Focus
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Prior experience working with formal verification, fuzzing, or static analysis tools
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Contributions to audits, incident response, or security-critical systems
Leadership
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Ability to balance long-term protocol sustainability with near-term delivery needs
Nice-to-Haves
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Experienced simulating economic systems using deterministic and/or stochastic modeling techniques
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Experience working in open source and communicating with the public
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Experience working as an auditor
About You
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You are passionate about decentralized technology and believe in an onchain future
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You love to win and are fueled by solving hard problems
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You are self-directed, see opportunities and are inspired by challenges and helping solve them
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You have a small team mindset and are focused on where you can have the greatest impact
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You love to learn, are not afraid of changing your opinion or being wrong
Benefits
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Competitive compensation package, Base + Equity.
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Salary range between $235k–$275k base (depending on experience + location)
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Remote-first environment with semi-yearly gatherings to connect IRL
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Fully paid Medical, Dental, Vision insurance in the US
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Parental Leave
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IT Equipment and WFH setup
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Monthly Wellness and Lifestyle stipend
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Personal assistant
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Unlimited time off