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Protocol Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Protocol Core Engineer

Miami, FL · On-site

$99.90K - $137.20K/yr

Core Protocol Engineer Position: Senior Engineer • Location: Miami, FL strongly preferred • Project: Char Network About Char Network Char Network is a proof-of-stake application coordination ...

Protocol Core Engineer

Miami, FL

$99.90K - $137.20K/yr

Core Protocol Engineer Position: Senior Engineer Location: Miami, FL strongly preferred Project: Char Network About Char Network Char Network is a proof-of-stake application coordination protocol ...

You are an experienced Protocol, DevOps or SRE Engineer with; * Prior software engineering or application development experience in modern programming language (.Net, Go, Rust, C/C++, etc.) * Ability ...

FIX Protocol Developer (Java)

Charlotte, NC

$49.75 - $64.50/hr

Lead Java Developer with (FIX Protocol) Location: Charlotte, NC (Hybrid - 3days onsite) * Strong working knowledge of the FIX protocol -- session and application layers, message types, tag structure ...

Developer Hub & Application Marketplace - A decentralized platform where developers build, deploy ... ROLE: Protocol / Technical Lead ABOUT THE ROLE The Protocol / Technical Lead is the Foundation ...

Protocol Backend Engineer - Stablecoin Platform Location : North American-based candidate only Remote Full-time Compensation : $180K - $220K Join a stablecoin platform for builders, providing a ...

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

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Protocol Engineer information

See salary details

$102.5K

$154.2K

$212.5K

How much do protocol engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for protocol engineer in the United States is $154,166.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $132,500.00 and $175,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Protocol Engineer position, and why are they important?

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 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.
What cities are hiring for Protocol Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Protocol Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Protocol Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Protocol Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Protocol Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Protocol Engineer jobs include:

Founding Protocol Engineer - Prover Network

De Circle

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

Prover Network is developing the infrastructure necessary to meet the increasing demands for proof generation, due
to the increasing popularity of zero-knowledge proofs. While proof generation is time-consuming for end users,
leading to a bad user experience, proof generation for industrial provers requires them to deploy power-hungry and
partially utilized GPUs, leading to the challenging task of making the proof generation business economical. Prover
Network aims to solve the problem by creating a platform for easy delegation of the proving task.
Prover Network will build a specialized zkVM optimized not only for fast parallel proving, but also for
privacy-preserving delegation. Furthermore, it will build a platform around it for seamless delegation of proving
computation and for fast proving.
We are seeking a seasoned Protocol Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for the design and
implementation of core components of Prover Network, including highly optimized communication between the
clients and GPUs and the consensus protocol. You will collaborate closely on the design with Dr. Rao and lead the
implementation, while building out the necessary team.
As an early team member, you will help shape not only the protocol, but also who we are at Prover Network. You
will set a technical standard for Prover Network and eventually one of the core contributors of how verifiable
delegation of computation is executed in the world. You will have the freedom and autonomy to shape the direction
of our culture and platform, contributing your ideas and expertise to drive its evolution. You will be challenged with
complex problem-solving in a rapidly evolving problem space, allowing you to expand your skill set and grow
alongside the company.
  • Deep familiarity with protocol engineering aspects
  • Expertise in Rust (~4 years), including a high comfort level with advanced concepts such as generics, lifetimes, memory management, concurrency, etc
  • Familiarity with advanced benchmarking and testing frameworks (e.g., prop-testing, fuzzing)
  • Experience in working independently on open-ended problems
  • A strong sense of responsibility and comfort with autonomous work

Nice-To-Have
  • Interest in zero-knowledge proof-based blockchain systems
  • Experience writing smart contracts
  • Familiarity with the fundamentals of cryptography, such as hash functions and finite fields
  • A passion for open-source software and an eagerness to learn
  • A strong interest in privacy

Benefits
  • Competitive salary and equity as an early member of our team
  • Full benefits package, including healthcare coverage and more to come
  • Stipend for learning and professional development
  • Opportunity to work with a driven, talented, dedicated team that values collaboration, innovation, and in making a strong positive impact
  • Culture built upon mutual respect, empathy, learning, and growth