Director, Research
Stellar Development Foundation · Remote · San Francisco · Remote - USA · New York · Remote - Canada · Remote - EMEA ·
COMPENSATION
€•• – ••k
Listed on the employer's job board (Ashby)
- Director level role
- Fully remote (USA)
- PhD required
- $210k-$350k base
- Blockchain research
SDF is expanding its research division to address challenges in decentralized technologies and mechanism design. As Director, you will guide a diverse team of scientists, fostering collaborations that translate deep technical insights into practical impacts on the Stellar network.
What you'll do
- Define and lead a long-term scientific research agenda aligned with SDF's mission
- Build partnerships with top researchers, labs, and academic institutions
- Oversee research portfolios ranging from applied challenges to blue-sky investigations
- Recruit and develop a diverse team of research scientists and applied researchers
- Ensure research outcomes inform product strategy and protocol development
- Represent SDF at conferences, workshops, and standards bodies
What you'll need
- PhD in Computer Science, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, or related field
- 10+ years of research experience in academia or industry leadership roles
- Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications, patents, or open-source work
- Proven experience leading research programs and setting multi-year strategies
Nice to have
- Experience bridging academic theory and applied research settings
- Familiarity with open-source development and standards communities like IETF
- Ability to collaborate across disciplines and with external consortia
- Strong communication skills for engaging technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Interest in societal and ethical dimensions of decentralized financial systems
Stack
- Stellar
- Blockchain
- Cryptography
- Distributed Systems
How you'll work
- Fully remote position based in the USA
- Flexible time off policy
- 15 company holidays including a year-end break
What you get
- Base salary range of $210,000 to $350,000
- Lumen-denominated grants included in compensation
- Health, dental, and vision coverage paid 100% for employee and dependents
- 401(k) plan with 4% employer match
- $250 monthly commuter benefit contribution
- $80 monthly gym reimbursement
- Generous paid parental and pregnancy disability leave
- $1,500 annual learning and development budget
- Company retreats and wellbeing benefits