About Nexus
Nexus is innovating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and zero-knowledge cryptography to build a Layer 1 for the AI era. Our team of world-leading experts is developing the Nexus Layer 1 blockchain, Nexus zkVM, and other breakthrough products with the goal of creating a verifiable world.
Nexus has raised $25M in Series A funding from Lightspeed, Pantera, Dragonfly, SV Angel, and more.
We are headquartered in San Francisco, and this role will be in-person with the rest of the Nexus team.
Role OverviewNexus is seeking a Head of Security to lead our security strategy and execution as we approach our Mainnet launch. You will be responsible for securing the Nexus Layer 1 blockchain and shaping security practices for any future on-chain components built into the protocol. This role requires a hands-on leader with deep technical and Web 3 expertise to build and scale a world-class security program in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
Responsibilities• Design and execute the end-to-end security strategy for Nexus Layer 1 and all infrastructure, organizational, and ecosystem security needs.
- Lead threat modeling, risk assessments, and security audits across protocol, infrastructure, and application layers.
- Partner with engineering leadership to architect secure blockchain protocols and integrate risk controls at the protocol layer.
- Embed security practices into the software development lifecycle and CI/CD pipelines.
- Develop incident response plans for critical on-chain and infrastructure risks.
- Establish monitoring systems to detect economic, cryptographic, or consensus-layer vulnerabilities.
- Establish ecosystem security policies for validators, governance participants, and external integrations.
- Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure readiness for global regulatory environments.
- Collaborate with leadership to communicate risk posture and mitigation strategies.
- Develop and report security KPIs, risk metrics, and strategic priorities
Requirements• 7+ years in security engineering or security leadership in blockchain, crypto, or high-growth tech environments.
- Hands-on expertise in cryptography, protocol security, cloud security, and distributed systems.
- Proven success building security programs from early-stage to production-grade systems.
- Experience with incident response, audits, and threat modeling for mission-critical systems.
- Familiarity with compliance standards (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and regulatory risk management.
- Ability to balance tactical execution with strategic planning as the organization scales.
- Embrace AI as a core part of how you work, think, and build.
Benefits• Competitive salary and generous equity compensation
- Health insurance for employees and their dependents
- Daily lunch and dinner provided at SF headquarters
- Company-paid travel to events and conferences