Zero Knowledge/Cryptography Auditor at Nethermind

About Nethermind

Nethermind is a leading blockchain research and software engineering company, specializing in high-performance infrastructure, security tooling, and advanced cryptographic systems across the Ethereum ecosystem and beyond. We collaborate closely with protocol teams, L2s, and Zero-Knowledge (ZK) projects to design, review, and secure cutting-edge decentralized systems.

We are expanding our team and seeking talented engineers with hands-on experience in auditing cryptographic and zero-knowledge systems.

The Role: Zero Knowledge/Cryptography Auditor

As a Zero Knowledge/Cryptography Auditor, you will be responsible for evaluating the correctness, soundness, and security of cryptographic protocols and ZK systems. Your work will span the Ethereum and Aztec ecosystems, focusing on primitives, zkDSLs, and zkVM guest code. You will collaborate closely with other security engineers and researchers, contribute to internal tooling, and engage directly with clients to enhance the security posture of their protocols.

Responsibilities:

• Perform comprehensive security reviews and audits of cryptographic and zero-knowledge systems, including primitives, protocols, zkDSL circuits, and zkVM guest programs.
• Analyze the correctness, soundness, completeness, and potential privacy leakage within ZK programs.
• Review production code utilized in Ethereum and Aztec ecosystems, assisting teams in identifying and remediating vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate with teammates to maintain and continuously improve Nethermind’s internal blockchain security tooling.
• Design and implement innovative new security tools specifically for cryptography and ZK systems.
• Stay current with emerging ZK constructions, proof systems, and potential attack vectors.
• Participate actively in client meetings to effectively explain audit findings, recommend best practices, and support remediation efforts.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing, research notes, and (optionally) public-facing content.

Requirements:

• At least 1 year of proven experience performing security reviews related to cryptography, zero-knowledge systems, or closely associated domains.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Strong foundation in cryptography, including:
  • Solid theoretical understanding of cryptographic primitives and protocols.
  • Practical experience implementing and/or auditing cryptographic systems.
• Strong proficiency in Rust (experience auditing Rust codebases is a significant advantage).
• Deep understanding of Zero-Knowledge systems, including:
  • Hands-on experience with at least one ZK proof system (e.g., Groth16, PLONK, Halo2, Bulletproofs).
  • Proven usage of at least one zkDSL (e.g., Circom, Noir, Halo2, Cairo, etc.).
  • Understanding of zkVM architectures and proof pipelines.
• Ability to identify common cryptographic and ZK vulnerabilities effectively.
• Strong debugging skills; experience with reverse engineering is a plus.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, essential for a remote and asynchronous environment.

Nice to Have:

• Multiple years of experience in traditional cybersecurity prior to transitioning into blockchain.
• Experience reviewing or implementing advanced cryptographic primitives such as Threshold signatures, Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), or Anonymous credentials.
• Familiarity with or experience working on ZK rollups or L2s (e.g., Aztec or similar systems).
• Publicly available audit reports, blog posts, or presentations on cryptography or ZK security topics.
• Prior experience in client-facing security roles.

What We Offer / Benefits:

• Flexible Work Options: A remote-first culture with the opportunity to work from anywhere globally.
• Global and Diverse Workforce: Collaborate with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures worldwide.
• Learning and Development: Engage in innovative, challenging projects and gain access to experts and mentors to enhance your skills.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for training, mentorship, and contributions to open-source initiatives.
• Global Events and Conferences: Attend industry-leading events to stay updated and network.
• Collaborative and Innovative Culture: We foster teamwork and encourage the development of new ideas.

Our Commitment to Diversity

At Nethermind, we celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We firmly believe that a variety of perspectives drives innovation and leads to superior solutions for the blockchain community.

Ready to Join Us?

If you are passionate about blockchain technology and eager to make a significant impact, we would love to hear from you. Click "Apply for this job" to begin your journey with Nethermind.