Rust Engineer Job in Berlin with Visa Sponsorship

The field of cryptographic computing is undergoing a seismic transformation, driven by advancements in zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies that promise to redefine privacy and scalability in decentralized systems. At the forefront of this revolution is Irreducible – a trailblazing company committed to building high-performance cryptographic infrastructure for the web3 ecosystem.

As blockchain applications grow more complex, the need for secure, verifiable computation continues to rise. Irreducible meets this challenge head-on by combining cutting-edge cryptography with hardware-software co-design to unlock unprecedented proof generation speeds.

To help power this vision, we are actively seeking a Cryptographic Rust Engineer to join our expanding team in Berlin. This position represents a unique opportunity for someone with deep technical roots in Rust and cryptographic protocol development to make a global impact. Whether you’re optimizing ZK proof systems or collaborating on protocol implementation strategies, your work will directly support the evolution of blockchain infrastructure at scale.

The role blends research-driven development with production-level engineering, making it ideal for candidates who are as passionate about performance as they are about precision.

Irreducible’s engineering culture thrives on autonomy, ownership and experimentation. Our team operates with minimal hierarchy and maximum collaboration, allowing engineers to take initiative, explore new solutions and directly influence product direction. The successful candidate will work side-by-side with world-class researchers and hardware engineers to translate mathematical abstractions into functional systems. We expect our engineers to bring strong opinions, curiosity and craftsmanship into every conversation and commit deeply to the quality and scalability of the technology we build.

For those ready to step into a role that merges low-level systems thinking with groundbreaking cryptographic innovation, this is more than a job – it’s an invitation to shape the future. With support for visa sponsorship, relocation assistance and hybrid flexibility, Irreducible is committed to building an inclusive, diverse and high-performing team from around the globe.

Whether you’re in Berlin or working remotely in a compatible timezone, you’ll be joining a mission-driven organization obsessed with delivering cryptographic performance at scale.

Locqtion: Berlin

Vollständige Stellenbeschreibung

At Irreducible, we are a dynamic team of forward-thinking engineers and researchers dedicated to revolutionizing cryptographic computing. Our mission is to supercharge the development and application of zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies by offering the fastest, most cost-effective and reliable proof generation solutions through a tightly integrated software-hardware co-design approach. If you’re passionate about building impactful technology, questioning the status quo and solving intricate problems with elegant solutions, you’ll find a perfect home here.

We’re on the hunt for a Rust Engineer with a cryptographic focus to become an integral part of our Berlin-based team. This position will see you contributing to our ongoing innovation in binary field proof systems under the Binius protocol – a new frontier in verifiable computing.

Role Summary

As part of the Cryptography division, your primary responsibility as a Cryptographic Rust Engineer will revolve around the development and optimization of Binius – a protocol designed to leverage binary fields for more efficient proof systems. You’ll take charge of implementing cryptographic protocols across our entire stack and will work on both open-source core libraries and applied systems.

We are particularly interested in a candidate who is, above all, an outstanding software engineer. Someone who’s fast at picking up complex mathematical concepts, comfortable engaging with researchers to implement algorithms and can efficiently transform theoretical constructs into robust, scalable and performant code.

You’ll be joining a highly autonomous team, expected to contribute across disciplines and think holistically about how different layers of the stack interact – from hardware acceleration to protocol batching. You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues in research and hardware departments to create seamless abstractions, fine-tune performance and ensure the reliability of edge-case scenarios.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Spearheading the design and implementation of cryptographic protocols in Rust.
• Converting mathematical models and research into production-grade software.
• Working directly with internal researchers to co-develop core protocol logic.
• Designing clean, maintainable APIs and abstractions for internal and open-source use.
• Optimizing low-level memory layouts and runtime performance.
• Identifying inefficiencies and contributing improvements across the stack.
• Leading by example in code reviews and best development practices.
• Taking ownership of critical system components with minimal supervision.

As a Senior or Principal Engineer, you’ll not only develop and maintain cutting-edge software but also nurture talent across the team. You’ll be involved in mentoring, driving architecture decisions and setting engineering quality benchmarks.

Workplace and Location Options

We are currently hiring for our office in Berlin, Germany and we encourage in-person collaboration.

• Berlin Office: We support relocation for suitable candidates and expect in-office presence at least three days a week.
• Visa Sponsorship: We are happy to provide visa sponsorship for the right applicant. While we strive to support each candidate, approval is subject to immigration authorities. Once we extend an offer, we commit fully to guiding the visa process.
• Remote Work: For exceptional candidates located between the U.S. East Coast and Central European Timezones, we offer a remote-friendly setup. However, remote team members are expected to attend company off-sites or sprints in Berlin once per quarter.

Note: We apply more stringent selection criteria for remote applicants to ensure tight collaboration across our globally distributed workforce.

Required Skills and Experience

To thrive in this role, we expect candidates to demonstrate deep expertise and commitment to software quality, particularly in the following areas:

• Advanced proficiency in Rust programming, especially in systems-level and protocol-focused environments.
• Practical experience implementing cryptographic protocols, including optimizations.
• Working knowledge of zero-knowledge proofs with a solid conceptual understanding.
• Ability to write optimized code with a performance-driven mindset.
• Familiarity with best practices in software testing and CI/CD pipelines.
• Aptitude for mathematics, especially algebra and field theory.
• Sound knowledge of software design patterns and clean architecture principles.
• Ability to work across multiple abstraction layers and collaborate across disciplines.
• Pragmatic approach to engineering tradeoffs and solving real-world problems efficiently.

Preferred (Bonus) Qualifications

While not mandatory, any of the following skills or experience will greatly boost your application:

• Active contributions to open-source cryptographic libraries or protocol stacks.
• Background in competitive programming or mathematical Olympiads.
• Experience working with or understanding blockchain technologies and smart contract platforms.
• Ability to read, analyze and translate cryptographic research papers into code.
• Experience in functional programming languages such as Haskell or OCaml.
• Proficiency with ZK circuit programming frameworks (e.g., Circom, Halo2).
• Demonstrated leadership in Rust best practices, including code reviews and architectural decisions.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading small technical teams.

Who We Are (Deep Dive)

Irreducible is at the cutting edge of zero-knowledge cryptographic computing. Our vision is to become the cornerstone infrastructure provider for verifiable computing at internet scale. We develop tools and infrastructure to support the next generation of scalable, private blockchain networks and applications.

Our primary focus is on zk-SNARKs, a powerful form of cryptographic proof that enables scalable and privacy-preserving applications. These systems are now powering real-world solutions like Polygon zkEVM, Starknet and zkSync. Our unique value proposition lies in generating such proofs at scale, using custom-built hardware and software that outperform general-purpose alternatives.

To solve these complex challenges, we combine hardware acceleration (primarily through FPGAs) with tightly integrated low-level software stacks tailored for maximum throughput.

Our proprietary Binius architecture offers a leap forward in SNARK efficiency by operating over binary field towers, enabling significantly faster proof generation. Binius is now evolving from a research prototype to a production-ready protocol designed to run at hyperscale.

Engineering Culture and Values

We believe the best ideas come from diverse teams. Our engineers come from backgrounds spanning hardware design, cryptography, high-frequency trading and data center operations. This cross-functional approach helps us solve problems from multiple angles and deliver solutions that are both elegant and scalable.

We also maintain a flat engineering structure with minimal bureaucracy, allowing you to work directly with decision-makers and move fast. Whether you’re experimenting with a new algorithm, optimizing hardware drivers or reviewing cryptographic protocol designs, your work will be deeply valued and widely impactful.

We are a mission-driven organization. We don’t just want to ship software – we want to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in verifiable computing.

If you’re excited by this mission and ready to contribute to something genuinely transformative, then you’ll fit right in.

Our Work in the Media

If you’re curious about what we’ve been up to, here are a few articles that showcase our progress:

• ZK Hardware Scaling Challenges
• Custom FPGA Architecture for Goldilocks NTT
• Binius: A New SNARK Optimized for Hardware
• Vitalik Buterin on Binius and ZK Proofs
• Company Vision and Launch

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering an environment that celebrates differences and encourages authenticity. At Irreducible, you’ll work with talented individuals from all over the world. Even if you don’t meet every listed qualification, we encourage you to apply. We’re more interested in the person and the potential than just ticking boxes.

Note to Agencies

Please be advised that Irreducible does not engage with external recruitment firms. Resumes submitted via third parties will be considered unsolicited and will not be subject to any placement fee.

For more information, please consult our full recruitment policy