Distributed Systems Engineer

Ritual·Remote·Work From Anywhere
Software Development
Excel

WFA Digital Insight

As the demand for blockchain and AI-native operations grows, companies like Ritual are pioneering new ground. With a 25% increase in job postings for distributed systems engineers in the past year, candidates with expertise in Go, Rust, and peer-to-peer networking protocols are in high demand. Ritual's commitment to bridging crypto and AI technologies makes this role particularly interesting for those looking to work on the cutting edge of tech. Before applying, candidates should be aware of the high level of expertise required, including experience with Kubernetes, Grafana, and Prometheus, as well as a strong background in system design.

Job Description

About the Role

The Distributed Systems Engineer role at Ritual is a unique opportunity to build and scale the company's heterogeneous blockchain infrastructure. As a key member of the team, you will be responsible for designing and implementing distributed systems components, developing peer-to-peer networking protocols, and ensuring the reliability and performance of the network. The role requires a deep understanding of distributed systems, blockchain technology, and AI model execution, as well as expertise in languages such as Go and Rust.

The Ritual team is composed of passionate engineers, researchers, and operators who are committed to building the next generation of AI infrastructure. As a Distributed Systems Engineer, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with the research team to implement novel distributed systems algorithms and contribute to the development of the company's first product, Infernet.

What You Will Do

  • Design and implement distributed systems components for Ritual's heterogeneous compute network
  • Develop and optimize peer-to-peer networking protocols optimized for AI model execution and blockchain consensus
  • Build and maintain infrastructure for node monitoring, metrics collection, and system observability
  • Architect solutions for efficient state management and synchronization across specialized nodes
  • Collaborate with the research team to implement novel distributed systems algorithms
  • Create robust testing frameworks for distributed system components
  • Ensure the reliability and performance of the network
  • Develop and maintain tools for node deployment and management
  • Collaborate with the engineering team to ensure seamless integration of distributed systems components
  • Participate in code reviews and contribute to the improvement of the codebase

What We Are Looking For

  • Deep expertise in Go and/or Rust, with a track record of building production-grade distributed systems
  • Strong understanding of peer-to-peer systems, networking, and messaging protocols
  • Proven experience operating and developing blockchain nodes, with deep knowledge of node architecture and consensus mechanisms
  • Experience optimizing high-throughput systems and implementing performance improvements at scale
  • Advanced Linux expertise, with strong command line proficiency and system administration skills
  • Proficiency with infrastructure orchestration tools like Kubernetes
  • Mastery of monitoring and observability tools such as Grafana and Prometheus
  • Experience designing and implementing fault-tolerant, high-performance distributed applications
  • Strong background in system design, with the ability to make architectural decisions that balance performance, reliability, and scalability

Nice to Have

  • Familiarity with AI/ML systems and their distributed computing requirements
  • Knowledge of cryptography and secure systems design
  • Contributions to open-source distributed systems projects

Benefits and Perks

  • Highly competitive compensation package, including annual discretionary bonus & optimized tax structure
  • Top 1% of benefits across the web3 startup space
  • 100% of premiums covered on highest quality healthcare
  • Aggressive company 401k match
  • Fully remote and/or hybrid work arrangement
  • Opportunity to participate in virtual and in-person events
  • Chance to work with a passionate team of engineers, researchers, and operators

How to Stand Out

  • Highlight your experience with Go and/or Rust, and provide specific examples of production-grade distributed systems you've built
  • Be prepared to discuss your understanding of peer-to-peer systems, networking, and messaging protocols, and how they relate to blockchain technology
  • Showcase your proficiency with infrastructure orchestration tools like Kubernetes, and monitoring tools like Grafana and Prometheus
  • Emphasize your ability to design and implement fault-tolerant, high-performance distributed applications, and provide examples of your work
  • Prepare to discuss your experience with AI/ML systems and their distributed computing requirements, and how you can contribute to the development of Ritual's AI-native operations
  • Research the company's culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how you align with them

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