Director of Research
Leads scientific research agenda in cryptography, distributed systems, and decentralized technologies for blockchain financial infrastructure. Requires PhD, 10+ years research experience, and team leadership skills.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Shape the research vision: Define and lead a long-term scientific research agenda that supports SDF's mission while contributing to broader conversations in computer science and decentralized systems. Identify both mission-aligned applied challenges and foundational open problems to guide internal research and community engagement.
- Foster deep academic and industry collaboration: Build strong, lasting partnerships with top researchers, labs, and institutions. Support initiatives that lead to joint publications, open-source contributions, and shared advancement of knowledge.
- Balance innovation with exploration: Oversee a portfolio of research efforts ranging from mission-critical applications to blue-sky investigations in areas such as cryptography, distributed systems, and incentive design.
- Build and support a strong, mission-driven research team: Recruit and develop a diverse group of research scientists and applied researchers.
- Translate insights into real-world impact: Ensure that research outcomes inform product strategy, ecosystem standards, and protocol development.
- Engage with the global research community: Represent SDF at conferences, academic workshops, and standards bodies. Contribute to the broader discourse on decentralized systems and financial inclusion.
Requirements
- PhD in Computer Science, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, or a related field.
- 10+ years of research experience in academia (e.g., tenured or tenure-track faculty) or industry (e.g., senior research scientist or director-level role).
- Strong track record of high-impact contributions, such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, open-source projects, or foundational technical work.
- Demonstrated experience leading research programs or teams, including setting strategy and managing multi-year initiatives.
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience working in both academic and applied research settings.
- Familiarity with open-source software development practices and/or participation in open standards communities (e.g., IETF, W3C).
- Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions.
- Strong communication skills.
- Commitment to mentoring and supporting researchers.
- Interest in or experience with the societal, economic, and ethical dimensions of decentralized systems.
Compensation
Base salary range: $210,000 - $365,000 depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location. Lumen-denominated grants. USA Benefits: Competitive health, dental & vision coverage, flexible time off, paid parental leave, gym reimbursement, 401K with 4% match, and more.
Skills
Cryptography, Distributed Systems, Computer Science, Open-Source Software, Mechanism Design, Incentive Design, Blockchain, Ietf, W3C
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