Technical Product Lead - Privacy Blockchain

Penumbra Labs is part of a decentralized open-source ecosystem that shares the mission of bringing privacy to proof-of-stake, allowing users to transact, stake, swap, and marketmake without disclosing their personal information, account activity, or trading strategies to the entire world – while still permitting selective disclosure to appropriate parties. Working at Penumbra Labs is a unique opportunity to work on exciting problems and build new financial infrastructure. We offer a collaborative work environment and a meaningful stake in the creation of a new protocol.

What is the Penumbra Protocol? 

Penumbra is a private-by-default proof-of-stake network. Penumbra provides private transactions in any kind of cryptoasset, using Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) to connect to other chains. It also has a novel staking mechanism that provides accountability for validators but privacy for delegators, allowing them to privately stake, earn rewards, and participate in governance. Finally, Penumbra provides ZSwap, a decentralized exchange integrated with its shielded pool. ZSwap provides sealed-bid batch auctions on the market-taker side and Uniswap-v3-style concentrated liquidity on the market-maker side. Sealed-bid batch auctions prevent frontrunning, provide better execution, and reveal only the net flow across a pair of assets in each block, and liquidity positions are created anonymously, allowing traders to approximate their desired trading function without revealing their individual beliefs about prices.

This is a condensed summary of the entire system; more details on the economic and cryptographic design of Penumbra can be found in the protocol specification in this guide and on the website.

Role & Responsibilities:

We’re seeking an experienced Technical Product Lead to drive Penumbra Labs’ product development roadmap and be a strategic partner to our CEO. You will also play an important role in helping shape Penumbra’s privacy-focused decentralized open-source ecosystem and help achieve the shared mission of empowering users with tools that allow them to transact and trade securely, without compromising control or transparency.

Role Overview:

As the Technical Product Lead, you will:

• Develop, own, and maintain Penumbra Labs’ product roadmap with a deep understanding of our technology stack and ecosystem.
• Provide thought leadership and be a strategic partner to the CEO in driving product direction.
• Stay ahead of emerging blockchain trends, technologies, and protocols, especially in web3, privacy, zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies, Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC), and decentralized finance (DeFi).
• Analyze feedback from users, community members, and ecosystem partners to refine and evolve product offerings.
• Formulate and execute a strategy to address the needs of users and builders by prioritizing features, upgrades, and new product launches.
• Proactively monitor and improve product performance while ensuring Penumbra Labs’ privacy and security standards remain intact.
• Ensure effective allocation of resources across product initiatives, with rigorous follow-through and quality assurance (QA).
• Lead and manage cross-functional teams, promoting a collaborative culture with a strong emphasis on delivering results.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Strategy & Roadmap Development
• In collaboration with the CEO, define, own, and continuously evolve the product roadmap in alignment with Penumbra Labs’ strategic goals.
• Prioritize the development of features, upgrades, and new projects based on user feedback, market trends, and the company’s mission.
  
  
2. Stakeholder Engagement & Community Insight
• Engage deeply with Penumbra’s ecosystem and community to gather insights, assess needs, and identify opportunities for growth. This is done in collaboration with an ecosystem partner and the Foundation, who drive Penumbra chain adoption. 
• Process feedback from various stakeholders to inform decision-making and product adjustments.
  
  
3. Execution & Resource Management
• In collaboration with Operations, oversee the allocation of resources to ensure efficient, timely execution of the product roadmap.
• Work closely with engineering, design, and QA teams to drive project progress, maintain accountability, and troubleshoot issues.
  
  
4. Technical Leadership
• Stay up-to-date with advancements in blockchain technology, privacy protocols, ZK applications, and IBC connectivity.
• Apply a robust understanding of blockchain and DeFi principles to inform product choices, optimize performance, and safeguard user privacy.
  
  
5. People Management
• In collaboration with Operations, lead, mentor, and inspire cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment on goals, priorities, and execution timelines.
• In collaboration with Operations, foster a collaborative, results-driven environment that enables team members to contribute effectively.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in product management, with a proven track record in blockchain/web3 or a related tech industry.
• Strong understanding of blockchain technology, DeFi protocols, privacy solutions, and L1 network fundamentals.
• Experience with ZK, privacy-preserving technologies, and Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with executives and act as a strategic thought leader within a fast-paced, innovative environment.
• Skilled in analyzing user feedback and market trends to inform product strategy and roadmap priorities.
• Proven project management skills, with a focus on resource allocation, QA, and performance optimization.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.

Salary & Perks:

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $160,000 - $180,000. Our salary ranges are determined by experience level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for remote roles. Within the range, individual pay is determined by role, level, and additional factors, including job-related skills and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

Aside from a chance to work on an exciting project alongside amazing people, we also offer:

• Fully remote environment with flexible working hours - we focus on measurable results when assessing performance 
• Unlimited PTO
• Up to 16 weeks of parental leave 
• Healthcare 
• 401k
• Token stake 

Penumbra is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our passion for privacy and decentralized finance. If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.

If you’re ready to lead product innovation in a privacy-first blockchain, apply today!