Director, Crypto Protocols

About the role

This Director role centers on leading the technical architecture and delivery of PRIME, a Real World Asset (RWA) DeFi token, through the Hastra protocol. The work involves designing and building core protocol services for tokenization, settlement, and cross-chain infrastructure. A key responsibility is to guide new Hastra DeFi projects from initial design through to production launch, ensuring technical direction is sound and executed effectively.

The position requires developing production systems using Golang, Rust, and Solidity, and expanding the protocol's reach across various blockchain ecosystems including Solana and Ethereum. Collaboration is essential, working with internal teams, vendors, and partners to define project requirements, timelines, and delivery plans. Clear communication with leadership and stakeholders is also crucial, providing practical timeline estimates and thorough tradeoff analyses.

Success in this role means not only spearheading architectural decisions but also maintaining a hands-on approach in the codebase. It involves operating protocol infrastructure with robust monitoring and incident readiness, as well as reviewing architecture, code, and vendor integrations for scalability, security, and maintainability. The Director will also mentor engineers, fostering their growth while ensuring high-quality output.

The base compensation for this role ranges from $174,240 to $261,360 annually, supplemented by a 25% annual bonus target and company equity.

Skills that matter here

• Golang: This language is used for developing production systems and requires deep technical proficiency.
• Rust: This language is used for developing production systems and requires deep technical proficiency.
• Solidity: This language is used for developing production systems and requires deep technical proficiency.
• Ethereum: Direct experience with this native blockchain environment is required for expanding the protocol's footprint.
• Solana: Direct experience with this native blockchain environment is required for expanding the protocol's footprint.

Who this role suits

• You have at least 8 years of software engineering experience, specifically in production-ready backend, blockchain, or distributed architectures.
• You possess a proven track record in DeFi, smart contracts, token protocols, cross-chain infrastructure, or institutional-grade crypto trading and settlement systems.
• You are adept at managing production environments, with a strong focus on observability, alerting, monitoring, and disciplined incident response.
• You are a high-ownership, low-ego individual with a strong drive to ship products, capable of spearheading architectural decisions while remaining deeply hands-on with code.

From the employer

• Lead the architecture and delivery of PRIME through the Hastra protocol.
• Design and build core protocol services across RWA DeFi, tokenization, settlement, and cross-chain infrastructure.
• Own technical direction for new Hastra DeFi projects, from early design through production launch.
• Develop production systems using Golang, Rust, Solidity, and related blockchain infrastructure.
• Expand Hastra’s protocol footprint across Solana, Ethereum, and additional native chain ecosystems.
• Collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and protocol partners to define requirements, timelines, and delivery plans.
• Communicate clearly with leadership and stakeholders, including practical timeline estimates and tradeoff analysis.
• Operate protocol infrastructure with strong monitoring, observability, and incident readiness using tools such as Datadog, Hypernative, and other DeFi monitoring platforms.
• Review architecture, code, vendor integrations, and protocol design decisions for scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Mentor engineers while remaining deeply hands-on in the codebase.

• At least 8 years of software engineering background, focusing on the development of production-ready backend, blockchain, or distributed architectures.
• Deep technical proficiency in Rust, Golang, and/or Solidity.
• Direct experience with Ethereum and Solana native environments; familiarity with other blockchain ecosystems is advantageous.
• Proven track record in DeFi, smart contracts, token protocols, cross-chain infrastructure, or institutional-grade crypto trading and settlement systems.
• Skilled at managing production environments with a focus on observability, alerting, monitoring, and disciplined incident response.
• Capacity to spearhead architectural decisions while maintaining a daily commitment to writing high-quality code.
• Excellent communication abilities, including effectively coordinating with vendors, evaluating technical trade-offs, and providing realistic timeline estimates.
• A high-ownership, low-ego approach to work with a strong drive to ship products.
• A Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline like Computer Science is preferred, though we value significant practical experience over formal credentials.

• Base Compensation Range: $174,240-$261,360/yr
• 25% annual bonus target, paid quarterly
• Company equity in the form of RSUs
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% employer-paid premiums for employees and their dependents on select plans
• Company HSA, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, 401(k), and commuter benefits
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 11 observed holidays and PTO plan
• Up to 12 weeks of paid family leave
• Continuing education reimbursement