Chat Protocol Research Lead
Company Overview
Logos is a movement advocating for the decentralized web, developing technologies to create a more open internet where communities can evolve into network states. The Logos stack consists of protocols that aim to empower users while upholding civil liberties and essential freedoms.
About Waku
Waku is a group of peer-to-peer communication protocols within the Logos stack, focused on messaging. It boasts characteristics like privacy, censorship resistance, modularity, and scalability to facilitate private communication rights.
About Status
Status is a blockchain-based super app offering features such as private messaging, a wallet, DApp browser, and web3 community tools. It aims to be a fully decentralized communication platform, reducing reliance on centralized infrastructure while utilizing technologies like Waku under the IFT umbrella.
Key Responsibilities
- Research and document the existing chat and app protocols in the Status application
- Design and define new application protocols incorporating Waku, Codex, and IFT technologies, ensuring security, scalability, and privacy
- Implement a layered protocol approach with clear specifications considering different threat models and trade-offs
- Develop proof-of-concepts illustrating new or updated protocols using nimlang and JavaScript
- Collaborate with Waku research team to understand and leverage Waku protocols for secure applications
- Coordinate with Status leadership to define protocol properties and user-facing features
- Work with expert researchers in cryptography within Vac to apply specialized knowledge
- Collaborate with Waku test engineers to test new and updated protocols
Required Qualifications
- Strong academic background with research experience translating findings into user-centric products
- Excellent communication skills for technical documentation
- Familiarity with off-the-shelf networking stacks like libp2p
- Knowledge of encryption and key exchange mechanisms
- Experience in building instant messaging protocols
- Proficiency in low-level or strongly typed languages (C/C++/Go/Rust)
- Share alignment with the mission of the company and the Waku project
Bonus Skills
- Ability to work remotely and asynchronously
- Previous involvement with open-source organizations
- Experience with cryptographic protocols like OTR, X3DH, Noise protocol
- Passion for blockchain and decentralized technologies
Hiring Process
- Initial interview with the People Ops team
- Interview with Waku Research Lead
- Pair programming exercise with a Waku team member
- Interview with Chat/App Protocol Team Lead and Status App Lead
- Final interview with the Waku Lead
Compensation
Candidates can expect a salary range of $120,000 - $150,000, flexible based on skills and experience assessed throughout the interview process. Payment can be made in a combination of fiat and cryptocurrency.