Backend Engineer, Integrations & APIs (Greenfield Distributed Systems)

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. Since 2014, SDF has fueled the growth of the Stellar blockchain network, an open-source platform designed for fast, low-cost transactions. SDF supports the ecosystem by providing grants, investments, resources, and tooling to a diverse community of builders, from NGOs to enterprises. Our mission drives us to develop and maintain the Stellar network, ensuring its health and utility in bringing blockchain to the real world.

Introduction

Are you ready to join a mission-driven team at the forefront of blockchain innovation? The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is seeking a talented Backend Engineer to join a small, high-impact team incubating a novel distributed systems prototype. This is a unique opportunity for a zero-to-one build, focusing on creating the foundational infrastructure for a high-performance platform designed to handle real value.

This role is not for maintaining existing networks or academic research; it's about actively building and bringing a completely greenfield project to production. You will work directly with the protocol architect and core systems engineers in a fast-moving, highly technical environment, offering the agility of an early-stage startup with the stability of SDF.

Responsibilities

As a Backend Engineer specializing in Integrations & APIs, you will own the critical layer connecting our core infrastructure to the external world. Your responsibilities will include:

• Public API Layer: Design and build JSON-RPC endpoints that enable external tools, SDKs, and wallets to communicate with the core network (transaction submission, status queries, account state).
• Transaction Lifecycle: Own the entire path from client to consensus and back, including status tracking, error reporting, and timeout handling.
• Indexer & Query Backend: Develop the data backend powering the block explorer, partner integrations, and historical state queries.
• Data & Observability: Establish analytics pipelines (e.g., BigQuery population) and implement robust metrics and event logging using tools like Prometheus, Clickhouse, and Sentry.
• Cross-Functional Impact: Collaborate across service boundaries, understanding and interfacing with various code components to ensure cohesive system behavior.

Requirements

• Strong systems or backend programming experience in Rust, C++, or both (our codebase utilizes both).
• Proven track record of designing and building robust RPC/API services that handle real-world, high-scale traffic.
• Deep understanding of database architecture, indexing, and query patterns.
• A builder mindset, taking full ownership of production infrastructure, not just prototypes.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience building or operating blockchain infrastructure (nodes, RPC layers, indexers) in production.
• Experience with a testnet or mainnet launch for a complex infrastructure project.

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage (most plans 100% covered for employees and dependents).
• Flexible time off + 15 company holidays, including a company-wide holiday break.
• Generous paid parental leave for all parents, plus paid pregnancy disability leave for birthing parents.
• Gym reimbursement ($80 per month).
• Life & AD&D (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.

About Company

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. Since 2014, SDF has fueled the growth of the Stellar blockchain network, an open-source platform designed for fast, low-cost transactions. SDF supports the ecosystem by providing grants, investments, resources, and tooling to a diverse community of builders, from NGOs to enterprises. Our mission drives us to develop and maintain the Stellar network, ensuring its health and utility in bringing blockchain to the real world.

How to Apply

Apply Here

SDF is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other basis protected by applicable law.