Protocol Engineer

Job Title: Protocol Engineer
Location: New York City / Hybrid

About Inversion:

Inversion is a technology company that develops cutting-edge products and services to enable blockchain-driven business model transformations of legacy businesses. We pursue targeted acquisitions that leverage our blockchain technology to fundamentally transform business models, drive significant cost reductions, and achieve industry-leading profitability all while maintaining operational continuity in core business functions.

By strategically combining decentralized systems with our disciplined acquisition methodology, we disrupt traditional industries and build scalable, high-growth and profitable businesses.

We are backed by top-tier investors in crypto and tech. Our team brings deep experience from leading financial institutions and a decade of investing in crypto and technology.

We’re at an inflection point where crypto is no longer just experimental—it’s actionable. At Inversion, you'll be a pioneer in shaping how blockchain is used to create meaningful impact across industries and proving to the world that, like the Internet, crypto is a technology that most businesses will adopt to remain competitive.

Learn more on our website and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Position Overview
Inversion Labs is seeking a Protocol Engineer to architect, build, and launch the Inversion Chain, a custom Avalanche-based Layer-1 optimized for real-world business adoption. This role is foundational to Inversion’s mission: transforming traditional businesses into on-chain ecosystems through blockchain-native private equity.
As an engineer, you will own the design and implementation of Inversion’s core blockchain infrastructure, develop critical middleware components, and help shape the technical DNA of the company. You’ll work closely with Forward Deployed Engineers, the product team, and leadership to turn Inversion’s vision of blockchain-enabled real-world user acquisition into a live, scalable network.

Key Initiatives

• Protocol Design & Core Development: Architect and implement the Inversion Chain, a sovereign, Avalanche-based L1 optimized for consumer-scale performance, low latency, and business integration.

• Middleware & Tooling: Build core infrastructure modules, SDKs, and developer tooling that support rapid integration of real-world assets and applications across Inversion’s portfolio companies.

• Application Integration: collaborate with external issuers or partners to integrate blue-chip DeFi applications. Support forthcoming Inversion-led products, such as mobile wallet and FinTech experience, providing frictionless UX comparable to top-tier fintech apps like Nubank or Robinhood.

• Ecosystem Enablement: Contribute to validator infrastructure, tokenomics models, and interoperability frameworks that enable efficient migration of users and data from traditional systems to on-chain environments.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Protocol Engineering: Design, build, and optimize core consensus, networking, and execution layers of Inversion Chain.

• Smart Contract Development: Lead development of Inversion’s initial base contracts (e.g. collecting pre-deposits) and collaborate with external issuers or partners to integrate DeFi protocols.

• Technical Leadership: Serve as the technical architect; establish best practices for code quality, security, and performance. Set the standard for Inversion’s engineering culture and technical excellence.

• Blockchain Infrastructure & Deployment: Develop, deploy, and maintain validator nodes, RPC infrastructure, and developer APIs to ensure network reliability and scalability.

• Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with Product Managers and leadership to align protocol development with business objectives and user adoption strategies.

• Security & Audit Readiness: Implement robust security frameworks, including cryptographic best practices, code audits, and formal verification processes.

• Innovation & Research: Continuously evaluate emerging blockchain protocols, consensus mechanisms, and interoperability standards to ensure Inversion stays on the cutting edge of protocol design.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in blockchain engineering, distributed systems, or protocol development.

• Deep technical expertise with Avalanche, EVM-based architectures, or equivalent Layer-1 frameworks.

• Hands-on experience building or contributing to core blockchain infrastructure (consensus, networking, or virtual machine layers).

• Strong understanding of cryptography, decentralized systems, and smart contract security.

• Proven ability to ship production-grade systems in high-stakes or performance-critical environments.

• Experience with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native infrastructure.

• Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in early-stage environments with high autonomy and ownership.

• Passion for applying blockchain to real-world businesses and building technology that scales beyond crypto-native use cases.

Compensation:

Inversion offers a competitive compensation package, including base salary and discretionary. The role provides significant potential for asymmetric upside, especially for individuals who are passionate about driving innovation in the blockchain and investment space.

Why Inversion:

At Inversion, you will have the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of blockchain technology, transforming real-world businesses and creating scalable ecosystems. You’ll be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team that values innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision of reshaping industries through decentralized solutions. If you're passionate about leading product innovation and driving the blockchain revolution, we want to hear from you.

Questions:

Please contact our team at [email protected] with any questions regarding this position.

Inversion is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic predisposition, veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, a sex offense or stalking, or any other class or status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. All Inversion employees, including but not limited to recruiting personnel and hiring managers, are required to abide by this policy.