Security Protocol Engineer

Alpen Labs is a New York-based startup focused on creating a scalable, private, and programmable Bitcoin ecosystem through innovative technologies. The Security Protocol Engineer will be responsible for overseeing security across protocol-layer components, leading threat modeling, and ensuring the integrity of code before deployment.

Responsibilities:

• Own security across protocol-layer components (L2, bridge, custody)
• Act as the final gatekeeper before code hits main
• Lead threat modeling, design reviews, and mitigation planning
• Write critical patches and drive hardening when bandwidth is limited
• Maintain security CI tooling: sig-verification, SAST, fuzzing, secrets scanning
• Review 100% of protocol-relevant PRs and enforce automated checks
• Run secure coding workshops and pair-program during critical sprints
• Interface with auditors and bounty researchers to scope, triage, and fix issues
• Authority to block merges or deploys on security grounds
• Direct commit access for emergency fixes

Requirements:

• 5+ years in security engineering with hands-on software experience
• Strong background in Rust, Go, or Solidity
• Deep knowledge of threat modeling and real-world exploit paths
• Experience owning or maintaining CI-based security automation
• Comfortable leading security without direct org ownership
• Bonus: protocol-level blockchain experience, audits, bounties, or custody systems