Stellar Development Foundation · 2 days ago
Director of Research
San Francisco Bay Area
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$210K/yr - $365K/yr
10+ years expStellar Development Foundation (SDF) is focused on advancing open technology for equitable access to the global financial system. The Director of Research will shape the research vision, foster collaboration with academic and industry partners, and lead a mission-driven research team to inform product strategy and contribute to the broader discourse on decentralized systems.
BlockchainCryptocurrencyFinTechNon ProfitPayments
Hiring Manager
Marlon Dulay, Jr.
Responsibilities
Shape the research vision: Define and lead a long-term scientific research agenda that supports SDF’s mission while contributing to broader conversations in computer science and decentralized systems. Identify both mission-aligned applied challenges and foundational open problems to guide internal research and community engagement
Foster deep academic and industry collaboration: Build strong, lasting partnerships with top researchers, labs, and institutions. Support initiatives that lead to joint publications, open-source contributions, and shared advancement of knowledge—both within and beyond the Stellar ecosystem
Balance innovation with exploration: Oversee a portfolio of research efforts ranging from mission-critical applications to blue-sky investigations in areas such as cryptography, distributed systems, and incentive design. Champion rigorous thinking that leads to practical outcomes and advances the state of the art
Build and support a strong, mission-driven research team: Recruit and develop a diverse group of research scientists and applied researchers, from early-career PhD interns to experienced domain experts. Create a supportive environment where a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and research styles can thrive
Translate insights into real-world impact: Ensure that research outcomes inform product strategy, ecosystem standards, and protocol development—helping strengthen Stellar’s role in building accessible, resilient financial infrastructure
Engage with the global research community: Represent SDF at conferences, academic workshops, and standards bodies. Contribute to the broader discourse on decentralized systems and financial inclusion through publications, presentations, and thought leadership
Qualification
Required
PhD in Computer Science, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, or a related field
10+ years of research experience in academia (e.g., tenured or tenure-track faculty) or industry (e.g., senior research scientist or director-level role)
Strong track record of high-impact contributions, such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, open-source projects, or foundational technical work
Demonstrated experience leading research programs or teams, including setting strategy and managing multi-year initiatives
Preferred
Experience working in both academic and applied research settings, with an ability to translate deep technical insights into practical impact
Familiarity with open-source software development practices and/or participation in open standards communities (e.g., IETF, W3C)
Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions, including with academic labs, research consortia, and industry partners
Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders, represent the organization publicly, and contribute to technical and policy discussions
Commitment to mentoring and supporting researchers across career stages, and to fostering a collaborative and inclusive research culture
Interest in or experience with the societal, economic, and ethical dimensions of decentralized systems, particularly in the context of financial access and inclusion
Benefits
Competitive health, dental & vision coverage with most plans covered at 100% for the employee + any dependents
Flexible time off + 15 company holidays including a company-wide holiday break
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for both non-birthing and birthing parents, as well as up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave for birthing parents
Gym reimbursement ($80 per month)
Life & ADD (up to $50K)
Short & Long term disability
401K with 4% match
Health & Dependent Care FSA Accounts
Commuter benefits with $250/month employer contribution
Health Savings Account (HSA) with monthly employer contribution
Family building benefits through Kindbody
Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace)
L&D budget of $1,500/year
Daily lunch and snacks in office
Company retreats
Company
Stellar Development Foundation
Stellar Development Foundation supports the development and growth of Stellar, a blockchain network that connects financial infrastructure.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Stellar Development Foundation has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (5)
2024 (10)
2023 (9)
2022 (4)
2021 (2)
2020 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$3MKey Investors
Stripe
2014-08-01Seed· $3M
Leadership Team
Denelle Dixon
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
Jed McCaleb
Co-founder
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