Staff Software Engineer, C++/Rust

Stellar Development Foundation

. Design and build key components of Stellar Core, the backbone software behind the Stellar Network .

Posted 9/18/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • United StatesLead💰 $190,000 - $300,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing and building scalable distributed systems, with a strong focus on modern C++ or Rust programming. Possesses a collaborative mindset and strong communication skills to lead technical discussions and advocate for best practices.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Modern C++ DevelopmentRust ProgrammingDistributed Systems DesignPerformance DebuggingSoftware Design Patterns

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software DevelopmentEdge-Case AnalysisCode ReviewTechnical DocumentationPerformance Benchmarking

Soft Skills

Strong CommunicationCollaborative Decision-MakingEmpathy in Technical Discussions

Tools & Technologies

Development ToolsScalability TechniquesPeer-to-Peer Networking

Certifications & Qualifications

BS in Computer ScienceMS in Computer Science

Industry Keywords

Blockchain TechnologiesCryptocurrenciesDecentralizationConsensus Mechanisms

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsRustC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and build key components of Stellar Core, the backbone software behind the Stellar Network
Design and develop robust, scalable, and extensible technologies for developers and network participants
Collaborate on new architectures and subsystems with the CTO, engineers, and open-source developers
Write clean, maintainable code with emphasis on edge-case analysis and future-proofing
Own core Stellar Core subsystems and help achieve critical product milestones
Participate in code reviews and design discussions and contribute to engineering best practices
Investigate and refactor performance bottlenecks to scale the system
Author detailed technical feature and protocol RFC specifications
Work on distributed systems, peer-to-peer networking, processing performance, decentralization, consensus, simulation, scalability, and multi-core challenges

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of experience developing software on a team
BS or MS in Computer Science or equivalent field
Excellence writing code in modern C++ or Rust in a production environment
Strong communication skills and ability to advocate and lead technical discussions
Solid understanding of software design patterns and building reusable, extensible, and modular components
Knowledge of best practices and development tools
Passion for performance debugging and benchmarking
Openness to working on a small, growing team with significant autonomy
Collaborative, empathetic approach to technical decision-making
Direct experience with designing and implementing distributed systems (bonus)
Curiosity about blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies and understanding of their fundamentals (bonus)
Legally authorized to work in the country where the job is located

Benefits

Comp & perks

Lumen-denominated grants
Competitive health, dental & vision coverage with most plans covered at 100% for the employee + any dependents
Flexible time off + 15 company holidays including a company-wide holiday break
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for both non-birthing and birthing parents
Up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave for birthing parents
Gym reimbursement ($80 per month)
Life & ADD (up to $50K)
Short & Long term disability
401K with 4% match
Health & Dependent Care FSA Accounts
Commuter benefits with $250/month employer contribution
Health Savings Account (HSA) with monthly employer contribution
Family building benefits through Kindbody
Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace)
L&D budget of $1,500/year
Daily lunch and snacks in office
Company retreats