Stellar Development Foundation
About the Role
Join as a Senior Software Engineer, C++ at Stellar Development Foundation (SDF). The team fuels the Stellar blockchain network, an open‑source platform operating at high scale. Your work will design and evolve Stellar Core, the distributed engine powering the global ledger and consensus.
You’ll tackle complex, meaningful challenges that push the boundaries of blockchain: boosting performance, strengthening decentralization, and designing incentive mechanisms for long‑term network health. If you’re excited by formal verification, simulations, distributed systems, and multi‑core performance, we’d love to meet you.
In This Role, You Will
Design and build key components of Stellar Core.
Develop robust, scalable, and extensible technologies that empower our developers and network participants.
Collaborate on new architectures and subsystems with the CTO, engineering team, and open‑source community.
Write clean, maintainable code with a focus on edge‑case analysis and future‑proofing.
Own core subsystems of Stellar Core and help the team hit critical product milestones.
Lead code review and design discussions, contributing to best practices across SDF engineering.
Investigate and refactor performance bottlenecks to scale the system.
Author detailed technical feature and protocol specifications (RFCs) as part of the RFC process.
You Have
4+ years of software development experience on a team.
BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field.
Strong coding expertise in modern C++ (or Rust) in a production environment.
Excellent communication skills for advocating and leading technical discussions.
Deep understanding of software design patterns and reusable, modular components.
Familiarity with best practices, development tools, and a passion for technological innovation.
Proficiency in performance debugging and benchmarking.
A passion for tackling evolving challenges in distributed systems.
Comfortable working in a small, autonomous, growing team.
Empathetic and collaborative mindset, putting the best ideas forward.
Bonus Points If
Direct experience designing and implementing distributed systems.
Strong curiosity about blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies, with understanding of their fundamentals.
Compensation & Perks Base salary range: $180,000 – $290,000, depending on qualifications and location. Additional benefits include lumen‑denominated grants and a comprehensive benefits package:
Competitive health, dental & vision coverage (100% employee + dependent).
Flexible time off + 15 company holidays.
Paid parental leave: up to 12 weeks (both parents) + 14 weeks (birthing parents).
Gym reimbursement ($80/month).
Life & ADD up to $50K.
Short & long term disability.
401(k) with 4% match.
Health & dependent care FSA accounts.
Commuter benefits ($250/month).
Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution.
Family building benefits through Kindbody.
Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace).
Learning & development budget $1,500/year.
Daily lunch and snacks in office.
Company retreats.
About Stellar Stellar is a decentralized, fast, scalable network that provides builders and financial institutions worldwide a platform to issue and transact assets in real time, unlocking real‑world utility through blockchain technology.
About the Stellar Development Foundation The SDF is a non‑profit organization focused on working with and supporting change‑makers to create equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. SDF develops tools and resources for the Stellar network, funding and supporting builders and organizations globally.
EEO Statement SDF is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SDF does not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
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You’ll tackle complex, meaningful challenges that push the boundaries of blockchain: boosting performance, strengthening decentralization, and designing incentive mechanisms for long‑term network health. If you’re excited by formal verification, simulations, distributed systems, and multi‑core performance, we’d love to meet you.
In This Role, You Will
Design and build key components of Stellar Core.
Develop robust, scalable, and extensible technologies that empower our developers and network participants.
Collaborate on new architectures and subsystems with the CTO, engineering team, and open‑source community.
Write clean, maintainable code with a focus on edge‑case analysis and future‑proofing.
Own core subsystems of Stellar Core and help the team hit critical product milestones.
Lead code review and design discussions, contributing to best practices across SDF engineering.
Investigate and refactor performance bottlenecks to scale the system.
Author detailed technical feature and protocol specifications (RFCs) as part of the RFC process.
You Have
4+ years of software development experience on a team.
BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field.
Strong coding expertise in modern C++ (or Rust) in a production environment.
Excellent communication skills for advocating and leading technical discussions.
Deep understanding of software design patterns and reusable, modular components.
Familiarity with best practices, development tools, and a passion for technological innovation.
Proficiency in performance debugging and benchmarking.
A passion for tackling evolving challenges in distributed systems.
Comfortable working in a small, autonomous, growing team.
Empathetic and collaborative mindset, putting the best ideas forward.
Bonus Points If
Direct experience designing and implementing distributed systems.
Strong curiosity about blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies, with understanding of their fundamentals.
Compensation & Perks Base salary range: $180,000 – $290,000, depending on qualifications and location. Additional benefits include lumen‑denominated grants and a comprehensive benefits package:
Competitive health, dental & vision coverage (100% employee + dependent).
Flexible time off + 15 company holidays.
Paid parental leave: up to 12 weeks (both parents) + 14 weeks (birthing parents).
Gym reimbursement ($80/month).
Life & ADD up to $50K.
Short & long term disability.
401(k) with 4% match.
Health & dependent care FSA accounts.
Commuter benefits ($250/month).
Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution.
Family building benefits through Kindbody.
Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace).
Learning & development budget $1,500/year.
Daily lunch and snacks in office.
Company retreats.
About Stellar Stellar is a decentralized, fast, scalable network that provides builders and financial institutions worldwide a platform to issue and transact assets in real time, unlocking real‑world utility through blockchain technology.
About the Stellar Development Foundation The SDF is a non‑profit organization focused on working with and supporting change‑makers to create equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. SDF develops tools and resources for the Stellar network, funding and supporting builders and organizations globally.
EEO Statement SDF is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SDF does not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
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