Senior Backend Engineer

About Nexus

The Nexus Project is a scientific and engineering effort bringing truth to the field of computation. We’re enabling bringing to life a new form of compute: verifiable computation, powered by open science and open-source software so it can benefit everyone. Our work aims to bring to life decades of advancements in zero-knowledge cryptography, achieved by many scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, into a single software system.

Nexus raised $25M in Series A funding, co-led by Lightspeed and Pantera, with participation from Dragonfly, SV Angel and more.  

Our team consists of some of the world's top cryptographers, mathematicians, and engineers, all working together with one goal: to unite the world's computers and prove humanity's computations.

We are headquartered in San Francisco, and this role will be in-person, with the rest of the Nexus team.

Senior Backend Engineer

As a Senior, Staff, or Principal Backend Engineer on the Network Team at Nexus, you will play a key role in building the foundational infrastructure of our global network of verifiable compute provers. This involves developing distributed systems that support both users contributing compute (provers) and clients who need zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs for their computations. You’ll collaborate closely with top engineers, cryptographers, and product designers to deliver a high-performance, seamless experience for all participants on the Nexus network.

Responsibilities  

• Design and Develop Distributed Systems: Architect and implement reliable, scalable backend services for the Nexus network of verifiable compute provers.

• Optimize User Experience: Work closely with the product team to ensure a seamless experience for both provers and clients seeking ZK proofs, delivering both technical excellence and user satisfaction.

• Technical Ownership: Lead and guide backend development efforts within the Network Team, setting best practices in code quality, reliability, and scalability.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with frontend engineers, product managers, cryptographers, and data scientists to translate network requirements into scalable backend solutions.

• Mentorship: Provide mentorship and guidance to junior engineers, promoting technical excellence within the team.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive performance and functionality enhancements to support Nexus’s expanding network and user base.

• Problem Solving: Tackle complex technical challenges related to verifiable computation and distributed systems, developing innovative, scalable solutions.

Requirements  

• Experience: 5+ years for Senior, 8+ years for Staff or Principal level, with expertise in backend engineering and distributed systems.

• Programming Skills: Proficiency in one or more of the following: Go, Python, Rust, Java, or Node.js, with strong SQL and NoSQL database experience.

• Architecture: Demonstrated experience with cloud-native, microservices-based architectures for scalability and resilience.

• Distributed Systems Proficiency: Strong expertise in designing, building, and optimizing distributed systems.

• APIs and Microservices: Skilled in designing and implementing RESTful APIs, event-driven systems, and microservices.

• Debugging and Testing: Proven experience in troubleshooting, testing, and performance tuning of complex backend systems.

• Communication Skills: Excellent collaboration skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Bonus Points

• Web3 & Zero-Knowledge Proofs: Familiarity with blockchain technologies, decentralized systems, and ZK proofs.

• Security-Focused: Deep understanding of backend security best practices, especially for decentralized systems.

• Open Source Contributor: Active participation or contributions to open-source projects.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and generous equity compensation

• Health insurance for employees and their dependents

• Daily lunch and dinner provided at SF headquarters

• Company-paid travel to eve