Staff Solana Program Engineer at MLabs

Description

Solana Program Engineer

Location: New York (Office)

On-site | Full-time

Compensation: Competitive

Our client is a high-performance technology development firm responsible for building and operating the foundational infrastructure behind the world’s most active digital asset launchpads. The systems managed by this organization are defined by ultra-low latency, high throughput, and constant high-concurrency load. This is a mission-critical environment where technical precision is paramount; these systems operate under extreme real-world pressure where the margin for error is non-existent.

The organization is seeking a Staff Solana Program Engineer to design, build, and maintain on-chain programs that operate under heavy transaction volume. This is a hands-on role requiring absolute technical ownership and a deep understanding of blockchain performance. The successful candidate will join an elite team of builders where the pace is intense, expectations are high, and the impact of every deployment is immediate.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Development: Design and implement high-performance Solana programs in Rust capable of handling significant, sustained transaction volume.
• Security & Correctness: Reason rigorously about program correctness, security, and upgradeability within a live production environment.
• Performance Optimization: Optimize compute unit usage, account layouts, and transaction flows to maximize throughput and minimize latency.
• Architectural Integration: Collaborate with backend and frontend engineers to design efficient on-chain/off-chain boundaries and data synchronization strategies.
• End-to-End Ownership: Manage the full lifecycle of on-chain programs, from initial design and implementation through deployment, monitoring, and rapid iteration.
• System Design: Participate in high-level design discussions regarding protocol changes, economic mechanics, and underlying system constraints.
• Rapid Deployment: Debug, test, and ship critical changes that go live quickly to be used by hundreds of thousands of active users.

Interview Process

1. Recruiter / HR Call: Initial screening regarding background and professional motivations.
2. Technical Interview: A deep-dive assessment into Rust, Solana-specific architecture, and high-load performance logic.
3. Founder / CEO Interview: A final strategic discussion focusing on mission alignment, long-term vision, and role expectations.

Requirements

• Proven Scale: Highly experienced engineer who has deployed production smart contracts or on-chain programs that have operated at a meaningful scale with real users and sustained volume.
• Technical Depth: A deep understanding that building at scale differs from deploying isolated contracts; candidates must have experience navigating performance bottlenecks, complex edge cases, and real-world failure modes.
• Security Mindset: A thoughtful and defensive approach to security, adversarial environments, and long-term maintainability.
• Autonomy & Agency: Ability to work independently, take full ownership of features, and make sound technical decisions even when presented with incomplete information.
• Motivation: Driven by the challenge of operating real-world systems at the edge of current crypto scale.
• Work Style: Comfort with an intense, fast-paced, and unconventional work schedule. Our client operates in-person, and the environment is designed specifically for those who thrive under high-pressure conditions.

Benefits

• Unmatched Autonomy: Significant ownership over technical decisions and the freedom to drive architectural direction.
• Scale Exposure: Direct involvement with systems operating at the absolute frontier of blockchain throughput and transaction volume.
• Immediate Impact: The ability to ship code rapidly and see real-world results and user interaction within hours.
• Compensation: A competitive package consisting of a Base Salary plus Equity, with a range of $75K – $500K based on experience and impact.

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing [email protected].

MLabs Ltd collects and processes the personal information you provide such as your contact details, work history, resume, and other relevant data for recruitment purposes only. This information is managed securely in accordance with MLabs Ltd’s Privacy Policy and Information Security Policy, and in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Your data may be shared only with clients and trusted partners where necessary for recruitment purposes. You may request the deletion of your data or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting [email protected].