Senior Backend Engineer - Decentralized Perpetual Exchange
Location: Remote - US or EU if willing to overlap 6+ hours with ET
Compensation: $180K - $300K
We are the largest decentralized perpetual exchange on a leading Ethereum Layer 2 solution, processing over $20 billion in cumulative trading volume. Our mission is to bring global markets on-chain, enabling leveraged trading of real-world assets (commodities, forex, indices, stocks) alongside crypto, all with full self-custody. Backed by top-tier investors, we are a small team scaling critical infrastructure handling billions in volume and are seeking an exceptional Senior Backend Engineer who deeply understands crypto infrastructure.
You will build and scale the high-reliability systems that power our exchange, directly impacting billions in trading volume. This role requires navigating the entire stack, from reading blockchain state and decoding oracle message signatures to building high-performance APIs and data pipelines. You will be comfortable working close to the protocol layer while owning critical infrastructure that processes thousands of trades daily.
Key Responsibilities:
- Exchange Infrastructure: Build and scale core systems, including oracle integrations, subgraph indexing, smart contract event processing, keeper infrastructure, and APIs serving the trading interface.
- Protocol Integration: Lead the integration of multiple oracle networks, verifying cryptographic signatures and processing price feeds with high data freshness and reliability.
- Blockchain Data: Own the end-to-end data pipeline, from reading smart contract state (using ethers.js/viem/web3.js and ABI decoding/event parsing) to storing and serving data via high-performance APIs.
- Reliability & Monitoring: Design and build high-reliability systems, implementing robust monitoring and alerting for a protocol handling billions in volume.
- API Design: Drive API design and performance optimization for services that handle significant trading load.
- Backend Expertise: 4+ years backend development experience with TypeScript/Node.js (essential).
- Deep Web3 Experience: Extensive crypto/Web3 experience, including smart contract interactions, wallet integrations, and processing blockchain data.
- Indexing & Data: Hands-on experience with subgraphs (writing, deploying, and optimizing) and deep understanding of blockchain indexing patterns and event processing.
- Oracles & Security: Experience with oracle integration (verifying signatures, processing price feeds) and a strong understanding of cryptographic signatures and message verification.
- Blockchain Tools: Production experience with blockchain RPC providers (Alchemy, Infura, QuickNode, etc.) and reading from smart contracts using libraries like ethers.js/viem/web3.js.
- Systems: Experience building high-reliability systems with monitoring and alerting, and comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment.
Technical Expertise (Strongly Preferred):
- Expert-level TypeScript and modern Node.js patterns.
- Deep understanding of EVM chains (Ethereum, Arbitrum, etc.).
- Proficiency with databases (PostgreSQL, Redis, TimescaleDB) and GraphQL.
- Understanding of perpetual futures mechanics and derivatives pricing.
- Go/Golang experience (or Rust) for performance-critical services.
- Background in trading systems or financial infrastructure.
- Impact: Own critical infrastructure for the largest decentralized perpetual exchange on a major L2, directly impacting billions in trading volume and 26% of the network's total DEX activity.
- Growth: Work on cutting-edge systems at the intersection of DeFi and traditional finance in a small, quickly scaling team backed by top VCs (General Catalyst, LocalGlobe, SIG).
- Compensation: Competitive salary and equity package commensurate with experience.
- Culture: High-autonomy, high-impact environment where you can drive architectural decisions and shape the technical direction of the product.
- Flexibility: Flexible work arrangements (details to be discussed based on location).
Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.
Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:
At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing human-resources@mlabs.city.
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