Chief Cryptographer

Location: New York

Chief Cryptographer

About the Company:

They are a privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted communication platform where security is foundational - not a feature. The company is now

building out a dedicated cryptography research arm to shape the long-term architecture and research direction across its encrypted product suite. This is a rare opportunity to lead that effort from the ground up.

The Role

The Chief Cryptographer will operate as a strategic technical leader overseeing both applied research and product-facing cryptographic implementations. You will work directly alongside the founding team, engineering leadership, and research advisors - sitting at the intersection of cryptography research, infrastructure, and product architecture.

You will help define the future direction of the company's encrypted communication platform and broader enterprise offerings. The research philosophy here is grounded in real-world adoption and practical impact, not purely academic publication cycles.

What you'll work on

• Threshold cryptography, identity-based encryption, MLS, MPC, ZK, and adjacent fields
• Translating research into production-ready systems, libraries, and product implementations
• Shaping the long-term cryptography research roadmap alongside the founding team
• Contributing to protocols, RFCs, and open-source cryptographic ecosystems
• Mentoring researchers and influencing architecture decisions across the organization
• Balancing long-term research vision with practical product execution

What we're looking for

• Deep expertise in cryptography - particularly threshold cryptography, identity-based encryption, MLS, MPC, ZK, or adjacent fields
• A strong applied mindset with the ability to map research into real-world products or production libraries
• A track record of meaningful contributions to cryptographic protocols, publications, RFCs, or open-source ecosystems
• Rust expertise strongly preferred
• Experience leading technical direction, mentoring researchers, or influencing architecture decisions
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with engineering and product teams
• The ability to balance long-term research vision with near-term product execution

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision insurance