Head of Data at Solana

Who We Are

The Solana Foundation, a non-profit based in Zug, Switzerland, is dedicated to advancing the adoption, decentralization, and security of the Solana network. Solana is a high-performance blockchain designed to deliver a fast and user-friendly experience without compromising security. Our mission is to realize a world where individuals maintain ownership of their data, utilize permissionless networks, and freely transfer information and value globally. We seek talented individuals eager to contribute their expertise and help build the Solana ecosystem.

The Opportunity

The Solana Foundation is seeking an experienced Head of Data to define our data strategy and lead the team responsible for powering ecosystem intelligence. This role will span critical areas such as DeFi, developer activity, payments, stablecoins, Real-World Assets (RWA), and network economics. We are looking for a leader who is equally adept at establishing a multi-year data vision as they are at reviewing data pipelines or conducting in-depth data analysis themselves. You will manage a team of subject matter experts across various verticals, oversee the Foundation's external data partnerships, and ensure that strategic decisions are informed by accurate and relevant data. The ideal candidate will transform data into a significant competitive advantage for the Solana ecosystem, moving beyond just improved dashboards.

To be Successful in this Role, You Will:

• Define and own the Foundation’s comprehensive data strategy, including what metrics are tracked, their significance, and how they inform organizational decisions.
• Lead a team of analysts and analytics engineers, each specializing in a specific ecosystem vertical, and synthesize their work into a cohesive, cross-vertical perspective.
• Manage relationships with the Foundation’s ecosystem data providers, ensuring data coverage, quality, and methodological rigor.
• Collaborate closely with client teams (e.g., Anza, Firedancer, Jito, Temporal) on data-driven evaluations of Solana protocol upgrades.
• Drive the data infrastructure roadmap, making informed decisions on tooling, identifying gaps, and exploring new partnerships.
• Represent the Foundation’s data perspective in executive discussions and external forums.

You Will Have:

• 5+ years of experience in data-related roles, with at least 3 years in a team or functional leadership position.
• Deep familiarity with on-chain data, including a clear understanding of metrics and their potential limitations.
• Fluency across key metrics in DeFi, the developer ecosystem, stablecoins, payments, and network economics.
• A strong technical foundation in SQL and Python, coupled with hands-on experience managing a big data platform using modern data warehousing tools (such as Databricks, Snowflake, ClickHouse, etc.).
• A proven track record of managing external data vendor relationships, extending beyond merely consuming their outputs.
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of translating complex, multi-signal analyses for non-technical stakeholders.

Bonus Points for:

• Prior experience at a blockchain foundation, protocol, or DeFi analytics platform.
• Familiarity with Solana’s account model, fee mechanics, and program ecosystem.
• Existing relationships with analytics teams and data providers within the Solana ecosystem.