Backend Team Lead at CoW Protocol
About CoW DAO
CoW DAO is dedicated to safeguarding Ethereum users from the risks of DeFi. We achieve this by supporting the development of CoW Protocol, CoW Swap, MEV Blocker, and CoW AMM, as well as funding projects aligned with our values through the CoW Grants Program.
CoW Protocol is the second-largest DEX aggregator by monthly volume and the leading intents-based exchange. MEV Blocker is involved in approximately 4% of all Ethereum transactions, making it the leader in its category. CoW AMM is the only live AMM that protects liquidity providers from LVR (loss-versus rebalancing).
As part of CoW DAO’s core team, you’ll have the chance to shape these critical products and make a broader impact on the Ethereum ecosystem.
About the Role
Location: We are a fully remote team, and while we hire globally, we prefer candidates for this role to be based in Europe or within +/- 4 hours of CEST time.
Please note: We are not hiring from the US, Australia, or New Zealand.
Position: Full-time contractor
We are seeking an experienced Backend Team Lead who can manage and guide our engineering team while remaining deeply technical. This role involves solving problems, mentoring team members, and ensuring the delivery of clean, maintainable code without unnecessary complexity. You’ll collaborate closely with our Tech Lead, contributing to both high-level technical decisions and hands-on execution to drive the team’s success.
This role combines technical expertise with people management—ensuring the team has the resources and support they need to thrive, both professionally and personally.
What You Will Do
- Lead, support, and mentor the backend team: Help team members develop their technical skills, improve performance, and overcome challenges through mentorship, feedback, and career growth opportunities.
- Encourage clean and simple solutions: Promote a development culture that values simplicity, efficiency, and streamlined workflows to boost productivity and maintainability.
- Code reviews and technical guidance: Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure the team’s code meets best practices and high-quality standards.
- Collaborate with the Tech Lead: Work closely with the Tech Lead to support the team in implementing solutions, overcoming obstacles, and ensuring smooth development processes.
- Problem-solving: Identify and resolve roadblocks or inefficiencies in the team’s processes in a way that aligns with CoW’s long-term goals.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Partner with product, research, and other engineering teams to ensure seamless delivery of features and high-quality results.
Our Tech Stack
- Backend Code: Rust, Tokio, Cargo, Git (https://github.com/cowprotocol/services)
- Infrastructure: Pulumi, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Grafana, Prometheus, Elasticsearch, Flux
- Other codebases: Typescript, Python, Solidity
Who You Are
- Technical expertise: You have experience in backend development (languages like Rust, Go, Python, etc.) and building distributed systems. Web3 experience is a plus but not required.
- People-oriented leader: You have experience leading teams, mentoring individuals, and fostering a growth-oriented environment. You know how to motivate, resolve conflicts, and build trust within a team.
- Tech-Savvy Leader: You can step in to tackle complex technical challenges, but your primary focus is on people and processes.
- Simplifying Solutions: You value simplicity and ensure the team follows best development practices.
- Collaborative mindset: You work well with both technical and non-technical team members, ensuring alignment with the team’s goals.
- Code quality: You are experienced in code reviews and passionate about helping team members improve through constructive feedback.
- Remote team leadership experience: As a remote-first company, we need a Team Lead with a proven track record of managing fully remote teams, fostering collaboration, and maintaining high engagement across time zones.
- Excited about web3: While prior web3 experience isn’t required, you’re eager to explore the space, especially EVM chains, and learn more about DeFi and blockchain technologies.
What We Offer
- Flexible work environment: Work from our Lisbon hub or remotely.
- Token plan: Have a stake in our mission and shape the future of CoW DAO.
- Periodic gatherings: Connect with the team through regular trips.
- Conference allocation: Stay updated with ecosystem advancements using our conference budget.
- Learning budget: Support your personal and professional growth with our learning budget.
- Hardware budget: Access a budget for acquiring necessary equipment.
- Make an impact: Join a startup where your work truly matters.
- Flat hierarchies: Fewer processes and bureaucracy mean more of your ideas come to life.
- Flexible work and vacation times: Prioritize work-life balance with our flexible policies.
- Growth opportunities: If you’re proactive and driven, CoW offers plenty of room for individual growth.
Referral Program
Earn 6,000 USDC or USD through our refer-to-earn program. Learn more here.
Our Culture
Life at CoW Protocol is an exciting adventure! We pride ourselves on collaboration, autonomy, and fostering a culture of big thinking and continuous growth. We value impact, ownership, simplicity, and team spirit. Feedback, connection, and enjoying the journey are at the heart of what we do.
At CoW Protocol, we strive to create an inclusive and empowering environment. We believe our products and services benefit from diverse backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants are considered for positions regardless of race, ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, marital status, gender identification, sexual orientation, or physical ability.