Cryptographic Engineer - IOE: Cardano

Who are we?

IOG, is a technology company focused on blockchain research and development. We are renowned for our scientific approach to blockchain development, emphasizing peer-reviewed research and formal methods to ensure security, scalability, and  sustainability. 

Our projects include the Cardano blockchain, as well as other products in the areas of decentralized finance (DeFi), governance, and identity management, aiming to advance the capabilities and adoption of blockchain and Web3 technology globally.

What the role involves:

As a Cryptography Engineer you will contribute to the design, implementation, and integration of secure cryptographic protocols across Cardano-related initiatives, including Cardano Core Cryptographic Primitives, Mithril, ALBA, Leios, and etc.  This role bridges applied research and engineering, focusing on translating cutting-edge cryptographic designs into robust, production-grade systems. The cryptography engineer will collaborate closely with researchers, protocol designers, software architects, product managers, and QA teams to ensure cryptographic correctness, performance, and system alignment. A strong emphasis is placed on high assurance coding, cryptographic soundness, and practical deployment readiness.

• Work both independently and in collaboration with distributed teams across multiple time zones, showing initiative and ownership over tasks
• Design and implement cryptographic constructions, including digital signatures, zero-knowledge proofs, accumulators, commitment schemes,
• Work independently on software development tasks, demonstrating proactive problem-solving skills.
• Develop and maintain cryptographic libraries (primarily in Rust and Haskell, occasionally in C) with an emphasis on safety, performance, clarity, and auditability
• Translate advanced cryptographic concepts from academic research into well-structured, reliable implementations that will be used in production systems
• Contribute to cryptographic design discussions, parameter tuning, and performance benchmarking, particularly for elliptic curve and zk-based constructions
• Analyze and validate protocol security, ensuring soundness, liveness, and resistance to practical adversaries
• Collaborate with researchers, software architects, and formal methods specialists to align implementation with protocol specifications
• Write and maintain clear documentation, including developer guides and internal design notes
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize cryptographic code and its interactions with broader systems
• Keep up to date with recent cryptographic advancements and assess their relevance to the project

Requirements

Who you are:

• Degree in Computer Science, Cryptography, Mathematics, or a closely related field
• Practical experience in applied cryptographic engineering through industry work, academic research, or open-source contributions
• Strong proficiency in Rust for systems-level cryptographic development; familiarity with C is a plus
• Exposure to Haskell is a strong advantage, particularly in cryptographic or blockchain-related contexts
• Experience designing or implementing protocols involving digital signatures, multi-signatures, commitments, or zero-knowledge proofs
• Familiarity with blockchain cryptography, consensus mechanisms, or secure distributed systems
• Proficient in using version control systems, especially Git, in collaborative development environments
• Solid mathematical foundation in cryptography, including finite fields, group theory, and probability
• Strong expertise in elliptic curve cryptography, with a focus on digital signatures, multi-signature schemes, and cryptographic commitments
• Familiarity with zero-knowledge proof systems and their integration in blockchain protocols
• Proven experience implementing cryptographic primitives and protocols in Rust (required); familiarity with C is beneficial, and exposure to Haskell is a strong advantage
• Deep understanding of cryptographic protocol design, including security properties such as soundness, liveness, and adversarial modeling
• Strong security sensibility in low-level cryptographic implementation, with awareness of side-channel and misuse risks
• Ability to read, interpret, and implement cryptographic research papers and formal specifications
• Clear and structured communication skills to support effective collaboration across cryptography, engineering, and research teams
• Ability to work independently and proactively, with minimal supervision.
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills.
• Effective communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Are you an IOGer?

Do you find yourself questioning the status quo? Do you tinker with ideas and long to turn those ideas into solutions? Are you able to spark thoughtful debates, bringing out the inquisitiveness in others? Does the promise of continuously growing excite you? Then get ready to reimagine everything you thought wasn’t possible because that’s what it means to be an IOGer - we don’t set limits, we break them. 

Benefits

• Remote work
• Laptop reimbursement
• New starter package to buy hardware essentials (headphones, monitor, etc)
• Learning & Development opportunities
• Competitive PTO 

At IOG, we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.