Founding Engineer (DeFi)

Founding Engineer (Trading Infrastructure)

Location: New York, London (Office) Compensation: Competitive

We are building the next generation of global trading infrastructure. Designed for sub-millisecond execution and institutional depth, our platform powers spot, perpetuals, and prediction markets on a unified liquidity engine. Built by a team of Wall Street veterans and crypto-native engineers, we are moving beyond the limitations of current exchanges to create a high-performance network that spans across asset classes with zero compromise.

As a Founding Engineer, you will be a core architect of our trading ecosystem. This is a high-leverage role where you will be trusted with substantial autonomy to make foundational design decisions. Working directly with the founders, you will bridge the gap between high-finance performance and decentralized innovation to deliver a best-in-class trading experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Engine Optimization: Enhance and scale our matching and risk engines to maintain industry-leading performance across all products.
• Systems Architecture: Architect internal accounting systems and robust risk management frameworks.
• Settlement Innovation: Implement optimistic proof generation for efficient batch settlement of trades.
• Product Expansion: Propose and build new features and products that complement our unified liquidity suite.
• Code Excellence: Conduct rigorous peer reviews and maintain a high bar for system reliability, security, and performance.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a battle-tested engineer who has navigated the complexities of high-throughput financial systems.

• Experience: 6+ years in a highly technical trading infrastructure or engineering role. Direct experience building a centralized exchange (CEX) is strongly preferred.
• Technical Stack: Deep proficiency in Rust. Familiarity with TypeScript is a significant plus.
• Low-Level Mastery: A profound understanding of low-level architecture. Knowledge of hardware optimization is a major advantage.
• Distributed Systems: Proven expertise in building low-latency, high-throughput distributed systems that remain resilient under market volatility.
• Mindset: You are a "high-agency" builder who values strong opinions, loosely held. You are comfortable challenging ideas to find the best technical path forward.

What We Offer

• Founding Equity: Secure a significant stake in a well-funded, early-stage project with massive upside.
• Elite Technical Environment: Work alongside veterans from top-tier Wall Street firms and premier crypto protocols.
• High Autonomy: Shape the technical roadmap and architecture from day one without the friction of legacy corporate hierarchies.
• Cutting-Edge Tech: Solve complex problems at the intersection of high-frequency trading and zero-knowledge proof systems.
• Mission-Driven: Join a team dedicated to building a unified, high-performance global trading network that redefines the industry standard.

Application Note

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.

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Commitment to Equality and Accessibility

At MLabs, we are committed to offering equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and provide 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.

Data Privacy

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