📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Systems Engineer
Company: Unto Labs
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Systems Engineering
Date Posted: 2025-02-07
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)
Remote Status: On-site (Remote OK)

🚀 Role Summary

Design and build high-performance, distributed systems for a base-layer blockchain, pushing the limits of modern hardware.
Collaborate with a small, fast-moving team of experts in high-frequency trading and developer ecosystems.
Shape the architecture of a system designed to process millions of transactions per second.
Access cutting-edge hardware and development tools to optimize performance and ensure robust process isolation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for systems engineers to work on next-generation performance optimization in the blockchain space, with a focus on low-level optimization and distributed systems.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

System Design: Design systems for robust process isolation and error correction, ensuring data integrity and fault tolerance.
Subsystem Development: Build and test high-performance sub-systems from scratch in C, focusing on cryptographic operations, consensus mechanisms, and networking.
Benchmarking & Performance Testing: Build and contribute to a suite of custom benchmarking and performance testing tools to optimize system performance.
Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with the team to integrate and optimize various components of the blockchain system.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in systems programming, with a focus on performance optimization and low-level optimization techniques. Experience with modern CPU architectures and memory hierarchies is essential.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field is preferred. However, exceptional candidates with relevant experience may be considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in systems programming, with a focus on performance optimization and low-level optimization techniques.

Required Skills:

Deep expertise in systems programming languages (C, C++, Rust) with a focus on performance optimization
Experience and understanding of modern CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and low-level optimization techniques
Expertise in high-performance networking and protocol design
Understanding of distributed systems and consensus algorithms
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

Preferred Skills:

Experience with blockchain technology and cryptography
Familiarity with benchmarking tools and performance testing
Knowledge of developer ecosystems and high-frequency trading
Experience working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials: A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques. Include examples of projects that showcase your ability to design and build high-performance, distributed systems.
Technical Documentation: Document your code, including comments, version control, and deployment processes. Include any relevant benchmarking results and performance metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $250,000+ USD per year, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

Significant equity and upside potential
Flexible work environment
Unlimited vacation policy
Health insurance
Hardware and development tool allowance
Conference and learning budget

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role was estimated based on regional market data for systems engineering roles in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on performance optimization and low-level optimization techniques.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Blockchain and Distributed Systems

Company Size: Small (11-50 employees)

Founded: 2023

Team Structure:

Small, tight-knit team of experts in high-frequency trading and developer ecosystems
Collaborative environment with a focus on performance optimization and innovation

Development Methodology:

Agile development processes with a focus on rapid iteration and continuous improvement
Code reviews, testing, and quality assurance practices to ensure robust and performant systems

Company Website: Unto Labs

📝 Enhancement Note: Unto Labs is a young, innovative company focused on pushing the limits of modern hardware in the blockchain space. Their small, tight-knit team offers a collaborative environment with a strong focus on performance optimization and innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Systems Engineering Career Level: Mid-Senior Level

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the CTO and works closely with the team to design and build key parts of the base-layer blockchain system.

Technical Impact: As a Systems Engineer at Unto Labs, you will have a significant impact on the performance and scalability of the blockchain system, processing millions of transactions per second.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: As the team grows, there will be opportunities to take on more technical leadership roles, mentoring junior engineers and driving architectural decisions.
Architecture & Design: With experience and success in the role, there may be opportunities to take on more responsibility for the overall architecture and design of the blockchain system.
Emerging Technologies: As the blockchain space evolves, there will be opportunities to explore and integrate new technologies into the system.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for systems engineers looking to make a meaningful impact on a cutting-edge blockchain system. With experience and success, there are opportunities to take on more technical leadership and architectural responsibilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site (Remote OK)

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States

Workspace Context:

Collaboration: A collaborative workspace with a focus on open communication and knowledge sharing.
Hardware & Tools: Access to cutting-edge hardware and development tools to optimize performance and ensure robust process isolation.
Team Interaction: Regular team meetings and code reviews to ensure everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and an unlimited vacation policy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Unto Labs offers a flexible work environment with a focus on collaboration and open communication. Their on-site office in San Francisco provides access to cutting-edge hardware and development tools to optimize performance and ensure robust process isolation.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss your background and experience with the hiring manager.
Technical Deep Dive: A technical conversation focused on your expertise in systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques. Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and building high-performance, distributed systems.
On-site Interview: A visit to the Unto Labs office in San Francisco to meet the team and discuss your fit for the role. This will include a technical challenge and a chance to ask questions about the company and the team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience with systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques.
Include examples of projects that showcase your ability to design and build high-performance, distributed systems.
Document your code, including comments, version control, and deployment processes. Include any relevant benchmarking results and performance metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your solutions.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of modern CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and low-level optimization techniques.
Familiarize yourself with the latest developments in blockchain technology and distributed systems.
Prepare for a technical challenge that focuses on your ability to design and build high-performance, distributed systems.

ATS Keywords: (See the comprehensive list at the end of this document)

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise in systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques. Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and building high-performance, distributed systems and to demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Programming Languages:

C
C++
Rust

Databases:

Not applicable (blockchain-based system)

Infrastructure Tools:

Not applicable (on-premises hardware and development tools)

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires expertise in systems programming languages with a focus on performance optimization. Experience with modern CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and low-level optimization techniques is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Systems Engineering Values:

Performance Optimization: A relentless focus on optimizing performance and pushing the limits of modern hardware.
Collaboration: A collaborative approach to problem-solving and knowledge sharing.
Innovation: A commitment to exploring new technologies and approaches to drive innovation in the blockchain space.
Attention to Detail: A strong focus on quality and attention to detail to ensure robust and performant systems.

Collaboration Style:

Open Communication: Regular team meetings and code reviews to ensure everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.
Knowledge Sharing: A culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning to drive technical excellence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaboration with other teams, such as high-frequency trading and developer ecosystems, to ensure the system meets the needs of all stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Unto Labs values a collaborative approach to problem-solving and knowledge sharing, with a strong focus on performance optimization and innovation. Their culture of open communication and continuous learning drives technical excellence and ensures the system meets the needs of all stakeholders.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Performance Optimization: Design and build high-performance sub-systems from scratch in C, focusing on cryptographic operations, consensus mechanisms, and networking.
Error Correction: Implement advanced error correction and data recovery mechanisms to ensure data integrity and fault tolerance.
Benchmarking & Performance Testing: Build and contribute to a suite of custom benchmarking and performance testing tools to optimize system performance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in blockchain technology and distributed systems.
Technical Mentoring: Collaborate with the team to share knowledge and learn from one another.
Architecture & Design: Gain experience in designing and building key parts of a base-layer blockchain system, processing millions of transactions per second.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant technical challenges and growth opportunities for systems engineers looking to push the limits of modern hardware in the blockchain space. With experience and success, there are opportunities to take on more technical leadership and architectural responsibilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

System Design: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and building high-performance, distributed systems. Explain how you would ensure robust process isolation and error correction in a blockchain system.
Performance Optimization: Demonstrate your expertise in optimizing performance and pushing the limits of modern hardware. Explain your approach to low-level optimization techniques and modern CPU architectures.
Consensus Algorithms: Show your understanding of consensus algorithms and their role in a blockchain system. Explain how you would design and implement a consensus mechanism for a high-performance, distributed system.

Company & Culture Questions:

Team Dynamics: Explain how you would collaborate with a small, tight-knit team of experts in high-frequency trading and developer ecosystems. Describe your approach to open communication and knowledge sharing.
Innovation: Discuss your commitment to exploring new technologies and approaches to drive innovation in the blockchain space. Explain how you would stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field.
Problem-Solving: Describe a challenging technical problem you have faced in the past and how you approached solving it. Explain how you would apply your problem-solving skills to the role of Systems Engineer at Unto Labs.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Technical Walkthrough: Prepare a technical walkthrough of your portfolio, highlighting your experience with systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques.
Code Explanation: Be prepared to explain your code, including comments, version control, and deployment processes. Include any relevant benchmarking results and performance metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your solutions.
Architecture Decision Reasoning: Explain the architectural decisions you made in your projects, and how they contributed to the overall performance and scalability of the system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise in systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques. Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and building high-performance, distributed systems and to demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Systems Engineer position at Unto Labs:

Customize Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your experience with systems programming, performance optimization, and low-level optimization techniques. Include examples of projects that showcase your ability to design and build high-performance, distributed systems.
Optimize Your Resume: Optimize your resume for web technology roles, with a focus on project highlighting and technical skills. Include relevant keywords from the ATS Keywords list at the end of this document.
Prepare for Technical Challenges: Brush up on your knowledge of modern CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and low-level optimization techniques. Familiarize yourself with the latest developments in blockchain technology and distributed systems. Prepare for a technical challenge that focuses on your ability to design and build high-performance, distributed systems.
Research the Company: Research Unto Labs and their focus on pushing the limits of modern hardware in the blockchain space. Understand their commitment to performance optimization, innovation, and collaboration.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and systems engineering industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Systems Engineering-Specific Focus:

Tailor every section specifically to systems engineering roles, with a focus on performance optimization and low-level optimization techniques.
Include systems programming languages (C, C++, Rust) and modern CPU architectures in the technology stack.
Emphasize the design and building of high-performance, distributed systems, and the optimization of cryptographic operations, consensus mechanisms, and networking.
Address the unique challenges and growth opportunities in the blockchain space, with a focus on pushing the limits of modern hardware.

Quality Standards:

Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information.
Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about technical responsibilities, with specific reasoning based on role level and systems engineering industry practices.
Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text.
Strategically distribute systems engineering and blockchain-related keywords throughout all sections naturally.
Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and systems engineering specialization.

Industry Expertise:

Include specific systems programming languages, modern CPU architectures, and low-level optimization techniques in the technology stack.
Address the unique challenges and growth opportunities in the blockchain space, with a focus on pushing the limits of modern hardware.
Provide tactical advice for systems engineering portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies.
Include systems engineering-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance.
Emphasize performance optimization, error correction, and data recovery mechanisms in the role analysis.

Professional Standards:

Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout.
Use systems engineering and blockchain industry terminology appropriately and accurately.
Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to systems engineering professionals.
Provide actionable insights that give systems engineering candidates a competitive advantage.
Focus on systems engineering team culture, collaboration, and user impact measurement.

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

Emphasize systems programming languages, modern CPU architectures, and low-level optimization techniques in the role analysis.
Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the systems engineering discipline and role level.
Address the unique challenges and growth opportunities in the blockchain space, with a focus on pushing the limits of modern hardware.
Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable system design.
Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for systems engineering projects.

Avoid:

Generic business jargon not relevant to systems engineering or blockchain roles.
Placeholder text or incomplete sections.
Repetitive content across different sections.
Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific systems engineering role.
Marketing language unrelated to systems engineering, performance optimization, or blockchain technology.

Generate comprehensive, systems engineering-focused content that serves as a valuable resource for systems engineering professionals evaluating career opportunities and preparing for technical interviews in the systems engineering industry.

ATS Keywords

Programming Languages:

C
C++
Rust
Assembly
Go
Java
Python
JavaScript
TypeScript

Databases:

Not applicable (blockchain-based system)

Infrastructure Tools:

Not applicable (on-premises hardware and development tools)

Web Frameworks:

Not applicable (systems engineering role)

Server Technologies:

Not applicable (systems engineering role)

Tools:

Benchmarking Tools
Performance Testing Tools
Cryptographic Libraries
Consensus Algorithms
Distributed Systems Frameworks

Methodologies:

Agile Development
Scrum Methodology
Waterfall Methodology
DevOps
CI/CD Pipelines

Soft Skills:

Problem-Solving
Attention to Detail
Collaboration
Communication
Knowledge Sharing
Innovation
Adaptability

Industry Terms:

Blockchain
Distributed Systems
Consensus Algorithms
Cryptography
Performance Optimization
Low-Level Optimization
Modern CPU Architectures
Memory Hierarchies
High-Performance Networking
Protocol Design
Error Correction
Data Recovery
Benchmarking
Performance Testing
Systems Engineering
High-Frequency Trading
Developer Ecosystems

Systems Engineer