Director, Research

The role

You will define and lead a long-term scientific research agenda to support the Stellar mission. You will build academic and industry partnerships and lead a team of research scientists.

What you will do

• Define and lead a long-term scientific research agenda
• Build strong, lasting partnerships with top researchers, labs, and institutions
• Oversee a portfolio of research efforts in cryptography, distributed systems, and incentive design
• Recruit and develop a diverse group of research scientists and applied researchers
• Ensure research outcomes inform product strategy, ecosystem standards, and protocol development
• Represent SDF at conferences, academic workshops, and standards bodies

Required qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, or a related field
• 10+ years of research experience in academia or industry
• Strong track record of high-impact contributions such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, open-source projects, or foundational technical work
• Demonstrated experience leading research programs or teams

Nice to have

• Experience working in both academic and applied research settings
• Familiarity with open-source software development practices and/or participation in open standards communities
• Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions
• Strong communication skills
• Commitment to mentoring and supporting researchers across career stages
• Interest in or experience with the societal, economic, and ethical dimensions of decentralized systems

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental & vision coverage
• Flexible time off
• 15 company holidays including a company-wide holiday break
• 401(k) with 4% match
• Commuter benefits with $250/month employer contribution
• Health & Dependent Care FSA Accounts
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with monthly employer contribution
• Gym reimbursement ($80 per month)
• Life & ADD (1x salary, up to $250K)
• Short & Long term disability
• Generous paid parental leave
• Family building benefits through Kindbody

About the company

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization focused on creating equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. SDF supports the development and growth of the Stellar network.