Lead Software Engineer, Payments

📋 Description

• • The Solana Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to fostering the adoption, decentralization, and security of the Solana network. We envision a future where individuals have sovereign ownership of their data, can freely utilize permissionless networks, and can transfer information and value globally without friction. To achieve this, we are actively seeking talented individuals eager to contribute their expertise to the growth and development of the Solana ecosystem.
• • The Ecosystem Engineering team operates as a horizontal, strategically positioned group of engineers at the nexus of business, technology, and innovation within the Solana ecosystem. Our mission is to empower both small and large teams by offering expert technical guidance, conducting thorough architecture reviews, and amplifying our impact through the promotion and adoption of technical public goods via code contributions and coordinated efforts.
• • We are currently seeking a Lead Software Engineer to spearhead our initiatives in the payments and stablecoins domain for the Solana ecosystem. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in defining and driving the technical roadmap for payments on Solana, establishing yourself as the preeminent authority on payments infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across various ecosystem teams to position Solana as the definitive platform for global payments.
• • Your responsibilities will encompass a broad spectrum of critical activities designed to advance Solana's position in the payments landscape:
• • **Driving Standards Adoption:** You will lead the charge in creating and promoting the widespread adoption of industry standards for on-chain payments, seamless stablecoin integrations, and robust connectivity with traditional finance systems. This includes developing and advocating for compliance and regulatory tooling specifically designed for stablecoins, enabling agentic and automated payment flows, driving the evolution of Solana Pay, and establishing efficient cross-border payment corridors.
• • **Serving as the Payments Expert:** You will act as the authoritative technical voice on all matters related to payments for the Solana Foundation. This involves providing expert insights internally, engaging with ecosystem teams, and representing our technical prowess publicly. Your deep understanding and clear communication will be crucial in shaping perceptions and guiding development.
• • **Building Strategic Relationships:** Cultivating and nurturing deep technical relationships with key players in the payments infrastructure space, including leading stablecoin issuers and innovative fintech companies, will be a core part of your role. These partnerships are essential for driving innovation and integration.
• • **Supporting High-Priority Opportunities:** You will provide hands-on technical leadership for critical, tier-1 payments integrations. This collaborative effort will involve working directly with our business development teams on high-impact strategic deals, ensuring technical feasibility and excellence.
• • **Mentoring and Elevating Others:** A key aspect of this leadership role is to significantly raise the bar for payments expertise within the Ecosystem Engineering team and the broader Solana ecosystem. You will mentor engineers, share knowledge, and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• • To excel in this role, you should possess a strong foundation in software engineering, with at least six years of overall experience, including a minimum of three years specifically focused on payments or financial infrastructure. A proven track record of successfully defining and executing complex technical roadmaps is essential. You must demonstrate deep expertise in payment systems, whether they operate on-chain, through traditional rails like ACH, SWIFT, or card networks, or a combination thereof. Proficiency in languages such as Rust, TypeScript, or other high-performance languages used in production environments is expected. Furthermore, you should possess well-defined perspectives on how blockchain technology can revolutionize global payments, supported by practical, hands-on experience. Excellent communication skills are paramount, enabling you to effectively influence technical direction across diverse organizations.
• • Bonus points for candidates who have prior experience working directly with the Solana protocol, a profound understanding of correspondent banking, cross-border payment intricacies, and remittance corridors, established relationships with major payment processors, stablecoin issuers, or fintech infrastructure providers, experience with compliance tooling, travel rule implementations, or regulatory frameworks for digital assets, a demonstrated track record of shipping widely-adopted standards or specifications, and experience in leading or mentoring other team members. Your contributions will directly shape the future of finance on Solana.