Core Protocol Engineer

Ritual is building a sovereign execution layer for AI, enabling AI-native applications on blockchain infrastructure. Its platform extends Ethereum capabilities to support advanced compute and AI integrations.

The Core Protocol Engineer will work on extending EVM clients, implementing new protocol primitives, and optimizing execution pipelines to support next-generation blockchain and AI workloads.

Ritual is seeking a Core Protocol Engineer to design and implement advanced extensions to Ethereum execution clients, enabling new compute capabilities for AI-integrated blockchain systems.

Responsibilities:
- Extend EVM clients (Geth/Reth) to support stateful precompiles
- Implement mechanism design primitives into the execution layer
- Optimize transaction processing pipelines for heterogeneous workloads
- Research and resolve state access conflicts
- Contribute to protocol development and Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs)
- Collaborate with research teams on protocol specifications and improvements
- Design and implement testing frameworks for execution client modifications

Requirements:
- Deep understanding of EVM internals and Ethereum execution clients
- Strong experience with precompiles and execution-layer modifications
- Proficiency in Go and/or Rust, and Solidity
- Knowledge of Ethereum roadmap and protocol discussions
- Experience with parallel execution in blockchain systems
- Strong understanding of consensus mechanisms and blockchain architecture
- Ability to interpret and implement EIPs
- Proven experience shipping production-grade blockchain systems

Nice to Have:
- Knowledge of mempool dynamics and MEV (e.g., mev-boost)
- Background in mechanism design or market systems
- Experience with proof systems and optimization of proof pipelines
- Familiarity with cross-chain bridges and interoperability
- Contributions to Ethereum client codebases
- Strong distributed systems and concurrency experience

Benefits:
- Competitive compensation with performance bonuses
- Premium healthcare fully covered
- Strong 401(k) match
- Remote-first or hybrid flexibility
- Opportunities for events and collaboration

Join Ritual to help build cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure powering the future of AI-native applications.