Engineering Lead (Blockchain & Protocol)

About US

Sahara is building a decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) network that will offer fair and universal access to global knowledge capital. Through its suite of trustless, permissionless, and privacy-preserving products, including Sahara Chain, Sahara Data, and Sahara Knowledge Agents (KAs), the network aims to revolutionize human-AI collaboration by empowering individuals with opportunities to leverage, scale, and monetize their knowledge capital. Sahara has secured the backing of prominent Web3 and AI investors, including Polychain Capital, Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, Samsung Next, and many more. 

Our Vision

Sahara envisions a world where human potential is maximized through the seamless integration of AI and blockchain technologies. We aim to make knowledge a shared and valued resource for everyone, creating a global ecosystem where every individual and business can freely and fairly access, utilize, and benefit from the vast expanse of their knowledge capital while maintaining their privacy and autonomy.

Our Principles

🔐 | Trust & Security: we are utilizing blockchain technology to ensure secure, private data ownership

🧑‍💻 | Innovation: we are developing AI-driven solutions for innovative knowledge utilization and monetization

🌍 | Fairness & Diversity: we are committed to providing fair and universal access to global knowledge for every human

About the Role

Sahara is seeking an experienced Engineering Lead, who has 0-1 blockchain and smart contract protocol building experience and some AI building experience. Specifically, the candidate is supposed to have expertise in Cosmos and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with a solid understanding of blockchain technology, smart contracts, and a passion for integrating blockchain solutions within the AI domain. This position will be on-site based in San Francisco Bay or Los Angeles. 

Responsibilities

• Technical Vision and Strategy: Develop and articulate a clear technical vision and strategy as well as engineering execution plan for integrating blockchain technology with AI applications, aligning with Sahara's mission to democratize access to knowledge capital.
• Blockchain Development Leadership: Lead the engineering design, development, and deployment of blockchain infrastructure, ensuring it meets the highest standards of security, scalability, and performance. Drive the innovation of Sahara's Data Marketplace and Knowledge Agents (KAs) through blockchain technology.
• AI Integration: Oversee and support the integration of AI technologies with the blockchain platform, ensuring seamless interaction between decentralized applications and AI services. Foster the development of AI-driven features that enhance user experience and platform capabilities.
• Team Building and Leadership: Attract, mentor, and retain top-tier engineering talent, creating a culture of excellence and innovation. Ensure the engineering team is motivated, engaged, and fully equipped to meet the technical challenges of building a cutting-edge blockchain and AI platform.
• Project Engineering Management: Manage end-to-end engineering lifecycles for the project, from concept to deployment, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and budget. Implement agile methodologies and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices to enhance development efficiency and product quality.
• Research and Development: Stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in blockchain and AI technologies. Lead the exploration and adoption of new tools, technologies, and methodologies that can enhance Sahara's product offerings and competitive edge.
• Security and Compliance: Ensure that all blockchain and AI applications adhere to the highest standards of data security and privacy. Lead the development and implementation of robust security protocols, smart contracts, and compliance measures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in distributed infrastructure and architectures, blockchain technologies, and decentralized services. 3+ years of engineering management experience with a team of 5+ engineers.
• 0 to 1 experience in building a L1 or L2 blockchain and protocol
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as go, rust or similar.
• Experience with blockchain architecture and design, including familiarity with various blockchain platforms and technologies.
• Demonstrated expertise in Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and smart contract development within the blockchain ecosystem.
• Familiarity with decentralized applications (dApps) and the integration of smart contracts into blockchain solutions.
• Strong understanding of blockchain consensus mechanisms, token standards, and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.
• Proven track record of implementing complex decentralized applications and interacting with blockchain networks through smart contracts.
• Passionate about decentralization and the role of blockchain in empowering users and developers.
• Fluent in Mandarin. English at working proficiency.
• Understanding and experience with AI is a plus

What We Offer

🤖 | Shape the future of AI and Blockchain with a global and diverse team of industry experts on a mission to drive the AI industry forward.

⚙️ | Work closely with pioneering AI companies and startups.

💰 | Highly competitive compensation package.

🏥 | Comprehensive health benefits package and vacation time.

💻 | Support for career and professional development.