Protocol Engineer

About Incention

At Incention, we’re building the future of interactive storytelling — where audiences don’t just watch stories, they shape them. Our platform empowers creators and communities to co-create IP with AI, unlocking new ways to imagine, build, and scale story worlds.

At the core of this vision is our IP Protocol — a blockchain-based system designed to verify, reward, and coordinate contributions from creators, collaborators, and fans.

The Role

We’re looking for a Protocol Engineer to architect and build the smart contract infrastructure that powers creative collaboration at scale. You'll lead development of our protocol — from initial R&D and specification design to production deployment — helping design a new foundation for how IP is created, owned, and shared.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of core and supporting smart contracts for Incention’s IP Protocol

• Drive end-to-end protocol lifecycle: research, design, implement, test, audit, and deploy

• Collaborate with product and engineering to translate coordination primitives into on-chain logic

• Design for scalability, efficiency, and economic sustainability

• Ensure robustness and security through rigorous testing and threat modeling

• Stay current on Web3, cryptographic, and coordination system advancements to inform protocol evolution

Requirements

• 2+ years of hands-on experience developing smart contracts with Solidity and EVM-compatible chains

• 5+ years of experience in senior engineering roles, ideally with both Web2 and Web3 experience

• Deep understanding of blockchain architecture, decentralized systems, and smart contract patterns

• Familiarity with advanced cryptographic concepts (e.g., zero-knowledge proofs, group signatures)

• Experience with IPFS, distributed hash tables, and decentralized data storage

• Systems thinker with interest in game theory, incentive design, and human coordination

• Strong product and design intuition with clear communication skills

• Self-directed, collaborative, and comfortable operating in early-stage environments

• CS degree or equivalent experience — we care more about capability than credentials

What We Offer

We celebrate diverse thinking, nonlinear backgrounds, and curiosity-driven builders. If you want to work at the intersection of creative expression and technical innovation, you’ll fit right in.

Benefits & Perks:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

• Flexible PTO – Unlimited vacation and sick days, plus all federal holidays

• Quarterly Mental Health Days – One day each quarter for the entire team to recharge

• 401k Plan – Contribute to a traditional 401k or Roth IRA for long-term savings

• Parental Leave – Flexible leave options for new parents to spend time with their growing families