Senior Protocol Engineer

As a Senior Protocol Engineer at Abacus Works, your primary responsibilities include designing, implementing, and optimizing smart contracts for the Hyperlane interchain messaging API. You will also contribute to protocol development, manage the on-chain state of various deployments, and work on integrating Hyperlane with other protocols to expand our interoperability capabilities.

To qualify for the Senior Protocol Engineer role at Abacus Works, you should have at least 2 years of experience designing and maintaining smart contract protocols, along with 4 years of software engineering experience. Expertise in EVM or other smart contract execution environments, a strong understanding of cryptoeconomic systems, and experience with code audits are also essential.

The salary range for a Senior Protocol Engineer at Abacus Works varies from $180K to $260K USD, depending on experience and location. This range reflects our commitment to transparency and does not include potential variable compensation like bonuses or equity incentives.

Absolutely! At Abacus Works, maintaining high security standards is a top priority. As a Senior Protocol Engineer, you will set and uphold smart contract security best practices to ensure the integrity and safety of the Hyperlane interchain messaging API.

Yes! While not required, familiarity with technologies such as Solana, Cosmwasm, Move-based execution environments, TypeScript, and Rust agents can be a significant advantage. We love seeing a 'gas golfer' mindset, so if you self-identify that way, it’s definitely a bonus!

Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you designed, built, and maintained smart contracts. Highlight the challenges you faced and how you ensured their security and efficiency, emphasizing your understanding of cryptoeconomic principles.

In your response, mention specific tools or frameworks you've used for optimizing protocols. Discuss your methodology for assessing performance and the techniques you apply to improve smart contract efficiency.

Discuss the importance of security audits, code reviews, and adherence to best practices. Emphasize your experience with common vulnerabilities and how you mitigate risks during the development process.

Ensure you provide examples of your experience with the Ethereum Virtual Machine. If you've worked with other execution environments, such as Solana or Cosmwasm, discuss those experiences and how they compare to EVM.

Share a specific project that had technical challenges, the innovative solutions you proposed, and the impact your work had on the project's success. Highlight your problem-solving skills and adaptability in the fast-paced blockchain environment.

Discuss your approach to smart contract design, including modularity, reusability, and security. Mention the importance of thorough testing and how you incorporate feedback loops into your development process.

Explain the significance of interoperability in connecting blockchains and how it fosters innovation, collaboration, and efficiency in the ecosystem. Relate this back to the mission of Hyperlane and Abacus Works.

Emphasize the importance of having incident response plans in place. Discuss steps like pausing contract functionality, communicating with stakeholders, auditing the contract, and implementing fixes to prevent further breaches.

Share your passion for technology, innovation, and the potential of blockchain to change industries. Discuss how the opportunity to work on projects like Hyperlane aligns with your career goals and personal interests.

Discuss the resources you utilize to stay updated, such as following thought leaders, subscribing to relevant publications, and participating in developer communities. Highlight your proactive approach to continuous learning.