ZK Proof Engineer at Axiom - Remote USA Role — Columbus
Traveler-Friendly Insight
Remote Flexibility: Axiom strongly prefers in-person work at their NYC office, but explicitly states they are open to remote candidates. This means a fully remote arrangement is possible, though you may need to justify it and expect some friction compared to office-based colleagues.
Timezone Considerations: No explicit timezone requirements are stated, but as a small, fast-paced team headquartered in NYC (ET), expect strong pressure to overlap with US Eastern business hours. This makes the role most practical for nomads based in UTC-5 to UTC+2 — covering the Americas, Europe, and West Africa comfortably.
- Lisbon, Portugal: UTC+0/+1 overlap with NYC is workable (afternoon overlap). Cost of living ~$2,000–$2,800/month. Portugal's D8 Digital Nomad Visa suits long-term stays.
- Medellín, Colombia: UTC-5, perfectly aligned with NYC hours. Cost of living ~$1,200–$1,800/month. Colombia Tourist Visa covers 90–180 days.
- Bangkok, Thailand: UTC+7 creates a challenging 12-hour gap with NYC — not recommended for this role.
Perks for Remote Workers: No explicit coworking stipend or travel budget is mentioned. Given the technical depth required (Rust, ZK circuits, LLVM), a high-performance laptop or GPU access is likely provided but not confirmed in the posting. Clarify hardware/equipment support during the interview process.
About Us
Axiom is using zero-knowledge proofs to enable new types of verifiable and private software applications, starting with crypto and fintech. We are a small but incredibly strong team backed by the best investors in crypto. We're looking for exceptional people who are excited to work on challenging and impactful problems in a fast-paced environment. Our office is in NYC and working in person in NY is our strong preference, but we're open to remote candidates as well.
We recently released OpenVM, a performant and modular zkVM framework built for customization and extensibility. OpenVM allows developers to verify the correct execution of arbitrary computer programs in a flexible and performant way. We are building ZK-enabled products using OpenVM and supporting teams building on OpenVM.
The Role
We are looking for a ZK Proof Engineer who will implement and optimize cutting-edge cryptographic code for zero-knowledge proof generation. You will be responsible for building systems to interface between low-level computer systems like the RISC-V ISA, compiler frameworks like LLVM, and database backends — and connecting them with cutting-edge zero-knowledge proof systems. The role will involve both optimizing ZK provers and implementing novel ZK circuits. Your work will require making design choices to enable rapid development of secure and efficient systems.
We are looking for someone with strong engineering design skills, the ability to work across the stack, and a security mindset. We also value the ability to make pragmatic technology choices which empower our small team without adding too much overhead.
Who You Are
You have a strong background in math/cryptography, or strong problem-solving skills and interest in zero-knowledge proofs.
You have proficiency in Rust, C/C++, or a similarly performant backend language. We work primarily in Rust.
You are extremely detail oriented and have a security mindset.
You've worked on challenging software projects and have an eye for performance.
You're a clear communicator and value collaboration.
You have a strong bias towards action.
You have an extremely strong work ethic.
Bonuses
You have experience with compiler frameworks like LLVM or MLIR.
You've worked with aspects of low-level computer architecture like RISC-V or programmed FPGAs or other custom hardware.
You have experience with database backends, including experience with query planning or low-level query engines.
You've done research in mathematics, theoretical computer science, or theoretical physics.
You have experience with low-level details of Ethereum.
We welcome diverse backgrounds. Some non-traditional profiles that may be a good fit include high-frequency trading, math/physics/CS academia, and hardware engineering.
Why Join Us
You'll be one of the earliest employees with ownership to make key technical/product decisions.
You'll be working on groundbreaking tech that has the potential to be a key piece of infrastructure for the crypto industry.
You'll receive a competitive salary with equity.
You will work with and receive mentorship from an exceptional team.
Our Team
Our founders Yi Sun and Jonathan Wang met while studying math at Harvard and have been working on ZK since 2021. Together, they wrote some of the most performant ZK circuits for elliptic curve cryptography and Ethereum data reads before starting Axiom.
Before Axiom, Yi was a professor at UChicago Statistics and did a math PhD at MIT. He was previously an advisor for Gauntlet and worked at an HFT startup from inception to profitable trading. Jonathan published number theory research in top math journals and did a math PhD at UChicago.
The rest of our small but incredibly strong team includes alums of Applied Intuition, Coinbase, Color, Neon, Google, and Perplexity as well as math/CS PhDs and IMO/IPhO/Codeforces winners. We look forward to working with you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this ZK Proof Engineer role fully remote or is in-person attendance required?
What programming language experience is required for this role?
Do I need prior zero-knowledge proof experience to apply?
What does the compensation package look like?
What is the team culture and company stage like at Axiom?
