Software Engineer - C++ Generalist

About Aztec

At Aztec, our goal is to add privacy to Ethereum.

In the current public blockchain paradigm, users and entities unknowingly broadcast data in the public, compromising privacy and security to get trustlessness.

Not only are unencrypted blockchains inherently privacy-exposing, they require significant redundancy to compute and verify the legitimacy of transactions.

Implementing scalable encryption in a public blockchain paradigm requires cutting-edge math and engineering. Thankfully, our team of scientists and engineers invented Plonk, the industry-standard zkSNARK, and Noir, the universal language of zero knowledge.

Now, we’re building a first of its kind Layer 2 with private smart contracts. This requires new cryptographic primitives, a zero-knowledge DSL for writing contracts, a privacy-friendly execution environment, a carefully designed set of circuits that prove the validity of the chain to L1, a decentralized block-building and proving mechanism, and a top-tier user and developer experience. And it’s now time to bring it to market.

We’ve raised $125 million from industry-leading investors including a16z crypto, Paradigm, Variant, Consensys, and a_capital, and we’re growing quickly.

Role focus:

Build the world's most performant zk-SNARK proving system with the team that brought you PlonK, Plookup, and fully private DeFi on Ethereum.

Aztec is building an encrypted smart contracts platform that will require an extremely efficient proving system. This system must be capable of expressing complex programs in small circuits, and parts of it must be optimized to run in constrained environments. We are seeking a talented C++ Software Engineer to contribute to the development of our high-performance systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. Software Development:
• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable C++ code.
• Develop and optimize algorithms for performance-critical applications.
• Build modular, testable components that integrate seamlessly into larger systems.
2. Problem Solving:
• Address complex engineering challenges in both high-performance and constrained environments.
• Propose and evaluate innovative solutions to improve system performance and reliability.
3. Collaboration:
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including software, hardware, and product engineers, to deliver robust solutions.
• Communicate technical ideas effectively to stakeholders at all levels.
4. Iterative Development:
• Follow an iterative, build-first mindset to deliver functional prototypes and incrementally refine solutions.
• Conduct rigorous testing and debugging to ensure software quality.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Proficiency in C++ or similar lower-level languages (e.g., Rust, C, Fortran).
• Strong analytical skills and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to work with incomplete information and make sound assumptions.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively within a team.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with cryptography concepts, mathematics (e.g., abstract algebra, elliptic curves), or numerical computation.
• Experience with multi-threading, memory optimization, or performance tuning.
• Located in the UK or US.

What we offer:

• A highly competitive compensation package (including equity)
• Flexible and remote work environment
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays annually
• An opportunity to work at the cutting edge of blockchain with a world class cryptography and engineering team

Aztec Labs is an equal opportunity employer and we value creativity, diversity, and intellectual curiosity. If you're passionate about leveraging your creative talents to make a real-world impact, and if you want to be part of a team that's shaping the future of digital privacy, then we would love to hear from you.