Backend Engineer

Merklio is expanding its cross-chain orchestration layer. We are building a sovereign app-chain (Rollup-style) that aggregates liquidity from multiple L1s via IBC. We need a Blockchain Engineer to design, implement, and maintain our Cosmos-based chain.
Expectations:
Design custom modules (x/staking, x/rewards, x/merkl)
Implement IBC light clients and relayers
Optimize block time and state pruning
Write comprehensive unit & integration tests (Go test)
Build CLI tools for validators and delegators
Monitor node health and network upgrades
Collaborate with the research team on MEV-resistant ordering
Maintain chain upgrades (v1 → v2) with migration scripts
Write technical documentation for external validators
Nice to have:
Experience with Avalanche Subnets or Polkadot Substrate
Knowledge of HSM and key management
Open-source contributions to Cosmos SDK or related repos
Chinese+English language proficiency

Merklio is building a modular settlement layer for institutional staking. We are looking for a Smart Contract Engineer who will own the core vault contracts, liquid staking tokens, and reward distribution mechanisms.
Expectations:
Design and deploy upgradeable proxy contracts (UUPS)
Write high-assurance tests with invariant testing (Foundry)
Implement access control (Ownable2Step, roles)
Integrate with Chainlink Automation and CCIP
Write Natspec docs and deployment scripts
Participate in internal security reviews and bug bounties
Optimize storage layouts to reduce gas costs by >15%
Collaborate with the research team on novel staking mechanisms
Nice to have:
Experience with LayerZero or Hyperlane
Published audit reports or contest wins (Code4rena / Sherlock)
Knowledge of ZK-proofs (basic)
Chinese language proficiency

 
 
we’re looking for a senior blockchain engineer to build low-latency execution infrastructure around hyperevm and hyperliquid-related trading systems.
 
this is not a frontend or dapp role. the focus is on real-time execution systems, chain-native infrastructure, and market-aware backend engineering where latency, ordering, and state correctness directly impact execution outcomes.
 
you will work on systems that operate under noisy, adversarial, and highly dynamic conditions, including delayed or missing websocket events, rpc inconsistencies, transaction lifecycle complexity, state desynchronization, retries, and recovery logic.
 
core responsibilities include building and maintaining realtime blockchain data pipelines, websocket and rpc streaming systems, execution orchestration layers, liquidity-aware routing logic, transaction lifecycle management, and integration with orderbook and market data systems.
 
we are specifically looking for engineers who think in systems rather than features. meaning understanding how data flows through pipelines, how state evolves over time, how failures propagate, and how to design systems that recover automatically without manual intervention.
 
areas of work include:
 
- realtime blockchain data ingestion
- mempool-aware execution flows
- transaction lifecycle handling
- execution sequencing and routing
- websocket and rpc infrastructure
- state synchronization systems
- liquidity and orderbook integration
- performance and latency optimization
 
you should be comfortable working with distributed systems, asynchronous event processing, and latency-sensitive backend architectures.
 
strong experience in one or more of the following areas is highly relevant:
 
- exchange infrastructure
- trading systems
- execution engines
- blockchain indexers
- realtime event systems
- arbitrage systems
- rpc/node infrastructure
- defi backend systems
- low-latency backend engineering
 
preferred technical stack:
 
- typescript / node.js
- go
- rust
- python
- postgres
- clickhouse
- redis
- kafka or similar messaging systems
- docker
- linux environments
- evm rpc internals
- websocket infrastructure
 
ecosystem familiarity:
 
- ethereum, arbitrum, base, optimism, bsc
- hyperliquid / hyperevm
- foundry
- ethers.js / viem
- geth / erigon / nethermind
- dex and amm mechanics
- liquidity math, slippage, gas strategy, routing logic
 
this role is not suitable for:
 
- frontend-only developers
- nft or basic dapp experience only
- tutorial-level web3 developers
- candidates without production systems experience
 
we value engineers who have built real systems where correctness, latency, and reliability matter under load. we care less about buzzwords and more about concrete systems you have personally built and operated.
 
ideal candidates can clearly explain:
 
- system architecture decisions
- bottlenecks and tradeoffs
- failure modes and recovery strategies
- latency considerations in real systems
- production debugging experience
 
working style:
 
- remote
- async-first
- low bureaucracy
- high ownership
- engineering-driven team
- direct technical communication
 
we strongly prefer practical engineering depth over polished presentation. if you have built or worked on systems involving realtime data, trading infrastructure, blockchain execution, or latency-sensitive backend systems, please include details of those systems when applying.
 

About the Role
We're looking for a Senior Rust Developer to join our core engineering team and own the systems that sit closest to the market. This means low-latency order execution engines, high-throughput market data pipelines, real-time streaming infrastructure, and integrations with both centralized and decentralized exchanges. Every millisecond and every line of code matters here, and you'll be the person making sure it all holds up under pressure. This is not a role for someone who wants to write Rust adjacent to trading. You'll be building the backbone of live production systems where correctness, safety, and raw performance have direct P&L consequences. You'll work alongside quantitative researchers and other engineers to implement and deploy strategies, and you'll have meaningful input into the infrastructure decisions that shape how we build and scale. If you've spent years pushing Rust to its limits in high-performance environments and you want that work to matter in real markets in real time, this is the role.
Responsibilities
Design, build, and maintain high-throughput, low-latency trading systems in Rust
Develop and optimize order execution engines, market data feeds, and real-time processing pipelines
Build reliable integrations with centralized and decentralized exchanges across CEX and DEX environments
Architect systems for real-time streaming data and WebSocket communication at scale
Write safe, well-tested concurrent code leveraging async runtimes including Tokio and async-std
Collaborate with quantitative researchers to implement and deploy trading strategies into production
Profile, benchmark, and eliminate performance bottlenecks across critical system paths
Contribute to infrastructure decisions around deployment, observability, and fault tolerance
Requirements
5+ years of professional software engineering experience
2+ years building and maintaining production systems in Rust, and you will be tested on it
Deep command of Rust's ownership model, lifetimes, traits, and async patterns
Experience with high-performance networking including TCP/UDP, WebSockets, and gRPC
Strong understanding of concurrency primitives and lock-free data structures
Familiarity with financial systems, trading platforms, or real-time data pipelines
Linux systems programming and performance tuning experience
Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, remote-first environment
Nice to Have
Experience with cryptocurrency exchanges, DeFi protocols, or blockchain RPC nodes
Knowledge of FIX protocol or other financial messaging standards
Open-source Rust contributions
Experience with FPGA or kernel-bypass networking such as DPDK or io_uring
Familiarity with quantitative trading concepts including order books and market microstructure
Infrastructure experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, or Prometheus/Grafana

Role OverviewKeras Labs is seeking a high-performing Blockchain Engineer to design, build, and scale smart contract systems for a hybrid AMM + perpetual trading platform powered by AI agents.This role also includes building and deploying standard token contracts (ERC20/BEP20) and supporting core on-chain infrastructure in a fast-paced, product-driven environment. Core ResponsibilitiesBuild and maintain smart contracts (Solidity / Rust)Develop and deploy ERC20 / BEP20 (or equivalent EVM) tokensImplement token logic (minting, burning, access control)Build core protocol modules (liquidity, trading, vaults)Integrate price oracles and on-chain data sourcesOptimize contracts for gas efficiency and performanceCollaborate with frontend, product, and research teamsSupport testing, audits, and deployment workflowsMonitor protocol performance and on-chain activity RequirementsStrong proficiency in Solidity (EVM) and/or RustExperience deploying ERC20 / BEP20 or similar token standardsFamiliarity with smart contract testing (Foundry, Hardhat)Understanding of contract security best practicesStrong system design and problem-solving skillsComfortable working in a fast-paced, remote environment Nice to HaveExperience with DeFi protocols (DEX, perps, lending)Understanding of AMM models and perpetual mechanicsExperience building trading systems or financial primitivesExperience with oracles (Chainlink, Pyth, etc.)Exposure to AI agents or automated trading systemsOpen-source contributions in Web3 / DeFi Compensation & BenefitsPerformance Bonus: Annual incentive structureBenefits: Remote-first flexibility, high ownership, impact-driven culture