Smart Contract Engineer

CoW DAO is on a mission to protect Ethereum users from MEV and optimize trade execution across DeFi. We achieve this through the CoW Protocol, CoW Swap (a leading intent-based DEX aggregator), and the innovative MEV Blocker, which together help secure, aggregate, and route trades for optimal outcomes. We also fund values-aligned projects via the CoW Grants Program.

CoW Protocol is consistently ranked among the top DEX aggregators by monthly volume and is the largest intent-based exchange. Our MEV Blocker protects trades from harmful MEV extraction and is integrated across the Ethereum ecosystem. The CoW AMM is the only live AMM designed to protect liquidity providers from LVR (loss-versus-rebalancing).

With over 100 open-source repositories on GitHub, we're transparent, community-driven, and deeply committed to the open-source ethos. Our real-time Dune Analytics dashboard showcases billions in cumulative trading volume and a rapidly growing user base. As we continue to scale, CoW DAO remains at the forefront of DeFi innovation, prioritizing security, efficiency, and decentralization.

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About the role

We are hiring a Smart Contract Engineer to help shape the next iterations of CoW Protocol and extend its real-world use cases.​

Location: We are a fully remote team, and although we hire almost globally, there is a preference for this role to be based in Europe or remote +/- 4 hours CEST time

Please note we’re not hiring from the United States, Australia, or New Zealand

Position: Full-time contractor

What you will do

You will join a small group of highly experienced smart contract engineers and work closely with them to architect, build, and iterate on the protocol, not just maintain it.​
If you enjoy digging deep into problems, are not afraid to throw away code, and like collaborating in public with a strong GitHub history, this role is for you.​

• Build new protocol features by designing and implementing smart contracts and ensuring they integrate cleanly with our off-chain infrastructure.​

• Work on sophisticated DeFi integrations such as flash loan-based flows with top protocols, as well as collaborations with leading wallets and lending markets.​

• Help reshape the next iteration of CoW Protocol, focusing on decentralization, verifiable execution, and pragmatic on-chain order settlement.​

• Support the health of the protocol by investigating suspicious transactions, detecting on-chain misbehavior, and contributing to CoW DAO governance discussions and proposals.

• Review and advise on integrations from external teams, including grant proposals and support for grantees building on top of CoW Protocol.

• Collaborate in a remote-first environment through code reviews, async discussions, and a public GitHub-driven development process with strong testing and CI.

Tech you’ll work with

• Smart contracts: Solidity, Foundry (and occasionally Hardhat).

• Backend and services: Rust and Kubernetes, where contracts connect to off-chain components.​

• Monitoring and debugging: Tenderly, Grafana, and Elasticsearch for tracing and alerting.

• Data and analysis: Python, Dune Analytics.

• Governance tools: Safe multisig, Snapshot.

• Supported chains: Ethereum, Gnosis Chain, Arbitrum, Base, and potentially others as the roadmap expands.​

Who you are

• You have solid Solidity experience and a track record on EVM-compatible chains, ideally visible through meaningful GitHub activity and collaboration with others.​

• You are strong in Rust or Python; Rust is preferred, but deep Python skills plus a real willingness to learn Rust also work.

• You are a problem solver who likes to dig into issues, reason about trade-offs, and architect “masterpiece” level solutions rather than quick hacks.​

• You are comfortable working in a highly async, remote setup, with thoughtful written communication and detailed code reviews.

• You take ownership, follow through, and are curious about extending and reiterating on the protocol rather than just implementing tickets.​

Nice to have

• Familiarity with the DeFi ecosystem and major protocols.

• Experience contributing to or maintaining open source projects.

What we can offer

• Flexible work environment: Join our hub in Lisbon or work remotely

• Token plan: Have a stake in our mission and shape the future of CoW DAO

• Periodic gatherings: Enjoy opportunities to connect with the rest of the team through regular trips

• Conference allocation: Stay up-to-date with ecosystem advancements using our conference budget

• Learning budget: Use our learning budget to support your higher ambitions

• Hardware budget: Take advantage of a hardware budget for acquiring necessary equipment

• Make an impact: You are joining a startup where you can make a huge difference. Your work matters!

• Flat hierarchies mean fewer processes and bureaucracy - see more of your ideas come to life!

• Flexible work and vacation times: Prioritize work-life balance through our robust flexible work policy and vacation allowance

• Growth: If you're someone who loves taking the initiative and getting things done, CoW offers lots of opportunities for your individual growth

Referral Program

Earn 5.000 USDC or USD with the refer-to-earn program. More details here.

Life within the CoW Protocol is an incredible adventure! We take pride in our collaborative approach, embracing autonomy and fostering a culture of big thinking and continuous growth. We value impact, ownership, simplicity, and team spirit. Plus, we're all about feedback, coming together, and enjoying the journey along the way!

At CoW Protocol, we strive to create a space where everyone feels included and empowered. We believe that our products and services benefit from our diverse backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants are considered for positions regardless of race, ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, marital status, gender identification, sexual orientation, or physical ability