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Protocol Engineer Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Staff Solutions Architect

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$69.25 - $91.50/hr

... protocol engineers to C‑level executives. • Build and validate POCs and pilot integrations, often writing or reviewing code (e.g., smart contracts, backend services, or sample apps) to prove out ...

AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$55 - $60/hr

... protocol. Engineer robust guardrails for safety, compliance, and least-privilege access ... Productionize LLMs: Build evaluation framework for open-source and foundational LLMs; implement ...

Senior AI Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

... protocol. Engineer robust guardrails for safety, compliance, and least-privilege access ... Productionize LLMs: Build evaluation framework for open-source and foundational LLMs; implement ...

... protocol. Engineer robust guardrails for safety, compliance, and least-privilege access ... Productionize LLMs: Build evaluation framework for open-source and foundational LLMs; implement ...

Senior AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

... protocol. Engineer robust guardrails for safety, compliance, and least-privilege access ... Productionize LLMs: Build evaluation framework for open-source and foundational LLMs; implement ...

Staff Solutions Architect

New York, NY · On-site

$69 - $90.75/hr

We partner closely with Business Development, Forward Deployed Engineering, and core Product/Protocol teams to help customers design and adopt cross-chain architectures built on LayerZero. We engage ...

Staff Solutions Architect

New York, NY · On-site

$69 - $90.75/hr

We partner closely with Business Development, Forward Deployed Engineering, and core Product/Protocol teams to help customers design and adopt crosschain architectures built on LayerZero. We engage ...

Protocol Lead

New York, NY · Remote

$112K - $147K/yr

We empower teams to create modular, programmable policies such as AML/CFT checks or offchain ... About the Role As Protocol Lead, you will own the design, development, and maintenance of our ...

Predicate empowers teams to create modular, programmable policies-such as AML/CFT checks or ... The role As Protocol Lead, you'll own the design, development, and maintenance of Predicate's smart ...

Software Engineer (fullstack)

New York, NY · On-site +1

$75K - $160K/yr

Waterfall is a prediction market-esque trading and pricing protocol. Waterfall allows users to ... Ability to build out interface in TypeScript, React, and NextJS Knowledge in databases, DevOps, and ...

Showing results 21-40

Protocol Engineer information

See New York salary details

$112.1K

$168.5K

$232.3K

How much do protocol engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for protocol engineer in New York is $168,545.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $144,858.00 and $191,322.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a protocol engineer?

To thrive as a Protocol Engineer, you need strong expertise in network protocols, distributed systems, and computer science fundamentals, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with programming languages such as C++, Rust, or Go, as well as experience with network analyzers, protocol testing tools, and relevant industry certifications are preferred. Excellent problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and the ability to work independently or in cross-functional teams are valuable soft skills. These capabilities are vital for designing robust protocols, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring seamless integration within large-scale systems.

What does a protocol engineer do?

A Protocol Engineer designs, develops, and maintains communication protocols that enable data exchange between systems, devices, or networks. They work on low-level networking, blockchain protocols, or distributed systems, ensuring efficiency, security, and scalability. Their role involves researching new technologies, optimizing protocol performance, and troubleshooting interoperability issues. Strong knowledge of networking fundamentals, cryptography, and programming is essential for success in this role.

What are some common projects or tasks a protocol engineer typically works on?

Protocol Engineers typically design, implement, and optimize communication protocols for high-performance networks or blockchain systems. On a day-to-day basis, you may work on developing new protocol features, analyzing packet flows, debugging interoperability issues, or collaborating with security teams to ensure protocol robustness. Tasks also often include writing technical documentation, participating in architecture reviews, and contributing to open-source initiatives. The role often requires close collaboration with software engineers, QA specialists, and product managers to deliver solutions that meet both technical and business requirements.

How do you become a protocol engineer?

To become a protocol engineer, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field. Gaining experience with network protocols, programming languages like C or Python, and understanding network architecture is essential; certifications such as Cisco CCNA or CCNP can also enhance prospects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Protocol Engineer jobs in New York?

The most popular types of Protocol Engineer jobs in New York are:

What are popular job titles related to Protocol Engineer jobs in New York?

For Protocol Engineer jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in New York are hiring for Protocol Engineer jobs?

Cities in New York with the most Protocol Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Protocol Engineer job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, and 22% Contract. Highlights an 78% In-person, and 22% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $168,545 per year, or $81 per hour.

Staff Solutions Architect

LayerZero Labs

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$69.25 - $91.50/hr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Job Summary:
LayerZero Labs is a company focused on creating a community of cross-chain developers. They are seeking a Solutions Architect who will lead the technical customer journey, design architectures, and collaborate with various teams to ensure successful deployment of cross-chain dApps.
Responsibilities:
• Partner with BD and Sales to qualify opportunities, run technical discovery, and map customer requirements to concrete interoperability designs.
• Design reference and bespoke architectures that integrate LayerZero with customer systems - including smart contracts, wallets/custody, trading or settlement systems, data platforms, and banking/payments rails.
• Lead technical presentations, workshops, and demos, tailoring the depth to audiences ranging from protocol engineers to C‑level executives.
• Build and validate POCs and pilot integrations, often writing or reviewing code (e.g., smart contracts, backend services, or sample apps) to prove out patterns.
• Document architectures, integration plans, and best practices, including sequence diagrams, threat models, and rollout strategies.
• Collaborate with Integrations/Forward Deployed Engineering on hand‑offs from POC to production, ensuring continuity and a clean path to scale.
• Advise on security and reliability for cross‑chain flows: failure modes, monitoring, incident response, and operational runbooks.
• Stay current on Web3 trends (L1/L2 roadmaps, bridging standards, custody, regulation) and use that knowledge to shape customer strategy.
• Gather structured field feedback and feed it back into Product and Protocol teams, influencing our roadmap and SDKs.
• Contribute to external‑facing content - sample apps, blog posts, talks, and reference architectures that help the ecosystem build better cross‑chain systems.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Have 5–10+ years in customer facing technical roles such as Solutions Architect, Sales Engineer, Forward Deployed Engineer, Platform/Infra Engineer, or Protocol Engineer.
• Have a strong grasp of blockchain fundamentals and Web3 architecture: consensus basics, L1/L2 and rollups, bridging models, wallets and signing, vaults, custody, and common DeFi patterns.
• Are comfortable reading and writing code - ideally in TypeScript, Rust, Go, and/or Solidity - and can quickly understand someone else’s stack.
• Have deep experience with integration architecture patterns and APIs (REST/gRPC/WebSockets, webhooks, event streams, OAuth/identity, etc.).
• Can explain complex technical concepts simply, adapting your language for engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders.
• Enjoy whiteboarding, system design, and storytelling, and can guide a customer from vague ideas to concrete architecture and rollout plans.
• Are comfortable in a fast‑moving, ambiguous environment, juggling multiple high‑stakes accounts at once.
Preferred:
• Bonus: have worked with financial services, trading, or other highly regulated industries and understand their risk, compliance, and integration constraints.
Company:
LayerZero Labs is a blockchain messaging protocol developer that allows decentralized applications build across multiple blockchains. Founded in 2021, the company is headquartered in Vancouver, CAN, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.