Founding CTO - DeFi Trading Platform

We are partnering with a fintech venture building a Web3 trading platform focused on on-chain markets and DeFi. This role will lead the technical architecture and engineering execution of the platform from 0→1, building the core systems powering trading, execution, and risk across both centralized and decentralized liquidity venues.

We are looking for a hands-on technical leader with deep experience building trading infrastructure, who enjoys operating in early-stage environments and solving complex technical problems under real market conditions.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end architecture and technical direction of the platform.
• Design and build trading-grade infrastructure, including execution, routing, and risk systems.
• Architect systems capable of operating under high volatility, latency constraints, and adversarial environments.
• Build integrations with DEX protocols, on-chain liquidity venues, and centralized exchanges.
• Design systems for reliability, failure recovery, and observability in distributed and blockchain environments.
• Work closely with founders and product stakeholders to translate market and trading requirements into robust systems.
• Act as a hands-on architect and builder, contributing directly to critical system components.
• Build and lead the engineering team as the platform scales.

Requirements

• Strong experience building trading systems, financial market infrastructure, or execution platforms.
• Deep understanding of market structure, order execution, liquidity routing, and risk controls.
• Experience designing reliable systems for high-volatility environments.
• Familiarity with crypto markets, DeFi protocols, or blockchain-based trading systems.
• Strong system design capability across latency-sensitive services, distributed systems, and security considerations.
• Comfortable working in early-stage environments with high ownership and ambiguity.
• Ability to operate as a technical founder / builder, not just an engineering manager.

Nice to Have

• Experience with DEX infrastructure, AMMs, or on-chain trading systems.
• Background in HFT, exchange infrastructure, or trading platforms.
• Experience bridging CeFi trading systems with DeFi protocols.
• Prior experience building 0→1 products in startup environments.