Category Labs
Senior Researcher, Mechanism Design
New York, NY, USA2w ago
New York, NY, USA USD 250k-250k / year + Equity Posted on Mar 7, 2026 Apply now Category Labs (formerly known as Monad Labs) is a team of systems engineers and researchers on a mission to design and build at the frontier of decentralized technology. We strive to design and build step-function improvements over existing blockchain solutions. After recently raising $225M in series A funding, led by Paradigm, we are growing our team.
We are looking for systems researchers with a strong interest in databases and operating systems. Candidates with research experience in systems verification, operating systems, multi-core algorithms, or systems architecture, are an ideal match. You will be part of a small, deeply technical team, working on high-impact problems in a fast-paced environment. Although we are building a new blockchain, previous experience with crypto is not expected.
Designing performant algorithms and architectures related to storage or recovery, in single-node or distributed environments. Researching new architectures Tech stack: C++, clang, LLVM, gdb, perf, unix, git
PhD in Computer Science or equivalent Significant research experience into databases or operating systems Experience writing performant algorithms Experience writing production-grade code Resourceful and self-motivated Collaborative Adaptive; able to make meaningful contributions in a fast-paced environment Curious about lower-level system details Interested in building high-value, performant and distributed systems
Challenging problems. You’ll work on extremely challenging problems with massive impact. See our Blogs and Papers & Talks for a flavor of the problems we are solving in the real world. Huge opportunity. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) standard is ubiquitous, but existing EVM-compatible chains are very slow. Monad’s core innovations offer developers the best of both worlds (portability and performance) and are a game-changer for mass user adoption in crypto. The right team. You’ll be part of a small, exceptional team (engineers and researchers make up 90% of the team). Culture. We’re a lean team working together to achieve very ambitious goals. We are united in our culture of collaboration, low ego, and high-quality output. As an early member of our team, you’ll help to shape our culture. Compensation. You’ll receive a competitive salary and equity package. Resources and growth. We’re well-capitalized, with backing from leading venture funds like Paradigm, Electric Capital, Greenoaks, Dragonfly, and Coinbase Ventures. We keep a lean team, and this is a rare opportunity to join. You’ll learn a lot and grow as our company scales.
Target full-time salary of $250,000. (**This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary; a final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, domain expertise, and geographic location.)
World class benefits package (medical/dental/vision) Unlimited paid time off 401(k) retirement plan + company match Lunch and dinner stipend (in-office NYC) Monthly wellness benefit Paid parental leave
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