About CoW DAO

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.

Learn more

About the role

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 US, Australia, or New Zealand

Position: Full-time contractor

We’re looking for a motivated Junior Backend Engineer to support the deployment of CoW Protocol on new blockchain networks, troubleshoot and debug issues, support our on-call rotation, and contribute to our engineering backlog. This role offers a unique opportunity to grow within the position and become a highly skilled Rust Engineer in a production-level Web3 environment.

This is a great fit if you’re someone early in your career who’s excited about learning Rust, solving complex problems, and taking initiative

What You’ll Do

• Help deploy and maintain CoW Protocol across new and existing blockchain networks
• Investigate and debug issues in production environments
• Participate in our on-call rotation (with additional compensation)
• Contribute to the engineering backlog and assist with feature development
• Collaborate with experienced engineers and gradually take on more ownership of Rust-based services

Who You Are

• Recently graduated or have around 3 years of backend experience
• Hands-on experience with Rust, either through personal projects, open-source contributions, or commercial work
• Solid understanding of blockchain and Web3 — you’re familiar with the space, its core concepts, and have prior exposure through work, projects, hackathons or contributions
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently
• Proactive mindset, you take initiative and figure things out
• Comfortable working remotely in a highly autonomous, async environment

What we can offer you

• 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 3.000 USDC or USD with the refer-to-earn program. More details here.

Culture

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.

About SSV Labs SSV Labs is the core team behind the SSV Network - pioneering decentralized infrastructure for Ethereum staking. We’re building tools, protocols, and standards to make staking more secure, scalable, and trustless. Our flagship upgrade, SSV 2.0, brings that vision to life. It’s a fully modular, next-gen staking layer that enables anyone to run validators with decentralized, non-custodial node operators. With built-in MEV support, advanced slashing protection, and performance at scale, SSV 2.0 is the foundation for Ethereum’s future.   Why join our team?   We are a global team that are looking for people with diverse professional backgrounds to join and contribute their ideas and help in the company's success. You'll get to work in a transparent environment with the most innovative technologies, be constantly challenged and learn from like-minded professionals and leaders in the industry. We offer a platform for you to develop and achieve your career goals. We look forward to hearing from passionate, goal-oriented applicants ready to make their mark in the blockchain space.   If you're a Solidity Developer looking to make an impact at a fast-growing crypto startup, this is the position for you!  You will play a pivotal role in defining the next generation of secure, scalable blockchain infrastructure. Your innovations will directly impact a global network of validators and the integrity of Layer‑2 ecosystems. You will be a crucial member of a small team that is building the future of decentralized staking.   Responsibilities:

Design and develop secure and robust smart contracts following security and efficiency best practices. Research and study existing and upcoming protocols and applications of leading players in the Ethereum Staking ecosystem to evaluate and design means of integrations. Define and execute comprehensive test suites—unit tests, integration tests, fuzz testing, property‑based tests, and scenario simulations. Work as a key member of the contracts team to architect, specify, and implement your research findings. Continuously evaluate and improve the security, scalability, and efficiency of our contracts. Collaborate with product managers, designers, frontenders, and other developers. Report progress in a transparent, accountable manner; escalate risks and failures promptly; share learnings and documentation. Work at a rapid pace with substantial ownership and autonomy.

  Your Experience & Qualifications:

Deep conceptual and technological understanding of Ethereum At least 3 years of experience in Solidity development At least 5 years of development experience Experience with at least one other programming language (Go/ Python/ JavaScript) and Ethereum development framework (Hardhat/ Foundry) Deep familiarity with Optimistic Rollups: challenge periods, fraud‑proof design, sequencing. Deep familiarity with ZK‑Rollups (e.g. zkSync, StarkNet, Polygon zkEVM): validity proof systems, prover/ verifier pipelines, circuit design. Familiarity with trust‑minimized cross‑chain protocols. "Can-do" mentality and team player qualities Experience with picking up existing open-source solutions and working with them - Advantage Strong knowledge of common algorithms and data structures, specifically within the Solidity scope where gas optimization is important Previous experience integrating systems/apps in Ethereum, such as bridges, connecting dApps, or contracts Familiarity with cryptography - Advantage BSc degree in Computer Science or relevant field or equivalent - Advantage Any knowledge of Blockchain/ Digital Currencies / Staking - Advantage *We offer equal opportunities and ensure an inclusive recruitment for our global teams without consideration of race, gender, culture, or sexual orientation.

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