Security Engineer (Researcher)

About PIP Labs

PIP Labs is a research and engineering company advancing decentralized technologies at the intersection of AI and intellectual property. As the initial core contributor to the Story Network, we are building infrastructure that makes creative IP programmable, ownable, and interoperable in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Our work spans blockchain protocol design, smart contract development, decentralized infrastructure, and AI alignment. We are especially focused on building secure and scalable foundations for the next wave of ownership-driven innovation.

About the Role

We're looking for a research-minded security engineer (or soon-to-be PhD graduate) with a passion for decentralized systems and a curiosity for how security and design come together at the protocol level.

This role is ideal for candidates coming from a theoretical or academic background in cryptography, distributed systems, or computer security who are excited to apply their skills in a hands-on environment. You will collaborate with protocol engineers and researchers to assess risk, design secure mechanisms, and contribute to the long-term integrity of blockchain-based systems.

• Conduct research on blockchain security risks, including smart contract vulnerabilities, consensus attacks, and protocol design flaws
• Perform architecture reviews, threat modeling, and adversarial analysis of L1 protocols and smart contract systems
• Collaborate closely with engineers to translate theoretical insights into practical security improvements
• Help define and develop internal tools, processes, and frameworks to support secure development practices
• Monitor and analyze emerging vulnerabilities and threat vectors in the broader blockchain ecosystem

• A research background in cryptography, distributed systems, software security, or adjacent fields
• Recently completed or are wrapping up a PhD, or have equivalent research experience (e.g. postdoc, academic lab, research group)
• Strong programming fundamentals, with comfort in GoLang
• Experience with or interest in applying formal methods, static/dynamic analysis, or penetration testing techniques
• A genuine interest in blockchain, decentralization, or security — even if you're earlier in your practical exposure
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to work with both researchers and engineers in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment

• Experience contributing to open-source blockchain projects
• Familiarity with Ethereum, Cosmos, Solana, or other L1/L2 systems
• Previous experience in security audits, code reviews, or applied cryptography projects
• Familiarity with fuzzing tools, symbolic execution, or formal verification frameworks