Job Description
As a core member of the research team, you will lead the exploration and analysis of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technologies, focusing on zkEVM, zkVM, and other ZKP protocols. This role requires a deep dive into technical documentation, academic papers, and open-source codebases to evaluate their architecture, performance metrics, and practical applications. You will also be responsible for identifying gaps in current solutions and proposing innovative frameworks to address them. Additionally, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate ZKP advancements into existing blockchain systems, ensuring alignment with project goals and technical constraints.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive research on zkEVM, zkVM, and ZKP protocols through rigorous analysis of code repositories, peer-reviewed publications, and technical whitepapers.
- Design and implement novel optimizations for zkEVM architectures, including improvements to proof generation efficiency, verification complexity, and privacy-preserving mechanisms.
- Develop and test advanced cryptographic constructions such as new ZKP schemes, homomorphic encryption, and multi-party computation protocols to enhance system security and scalability.
- Establish and maintain knowledge-sharing practices with the engineering team, translating complex research findings into actionable engineering specifications and implementation roadmaps.
- Forge strategic partnerships with academic institutions and external researchers to tackle open challenges in ZKP technology, such as proof size reduction, cross-chain interoperability, and standardized verification protocols.
- Document technical insights and maintain a centralized repository of research outcomes to support team decision-making and future development efforts.
- Participate in design reviews and provide expert guidance on protocol selection, ensuring technical feasibility and alignment with business objectives.
- Stay abreast of emerging trends in ZKP research, including post-quantum cryptography, succinct non-interactive arguments (SNARKs), and recursive proof systems.
- Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure ZKP implementations meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
- Present research findings at internal meetings and external conferences to foster knowledge dissemination and community engagement.
Job Requirements
- PhD in Computer Science, Cryptography, or related field with 3+ years of experience in ZKP research and development.
- Proven expertise in designing and optimizing blockchain protocols, particularly zkEVM and zkVM architectures.
- Strong background in advanced cryptographic techniques, including zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and lattice-based cryptography.
- Excellent analytical skills to evaluate technical trade-offs between security, efficiency, and scalability in ZKP systems.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through clear documentation and presentations.
- Experience in collaborative research environments, with a track record of publishing in top-tier conferences and journals.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Rust, Solidity, and Python for protocol development and testing.
- Deep understanding of blockchain fundamentals, including consensus mechanisms, smart contract execution, and cryptographic primitives.
- Strong problem-solving abilities to address challenging technical issues in ZKP implementations, such as proof size optimization and verification time reduction.
- Excellent teamwork skills to coordinate with engineers, product managers, and researchers across different departments and organizations.
- Ability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously while maintaining high-quality output and meeting deadlines.
- Knowledge of industry standards and regulatory frameworks governing cryptographic technologies and blockchain applications.
- Experience with tools for cryptographic protocol analysis, including formal verification systems and performance benchmarking frameworks.
- Strong mathematical foundation in number theory, algebraic structures, and computational complexity analysis.
- Ability to translate theoretical research into practical implementations while maintaining security guarantees and system performance.
