Chief Protocol Economist
About Us Optimum is delivering the world's first Decentralized Web3 Internet Protocol for any blockchain. Powered by Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC), Optimum scales network speed, robustness and throughput by orders of magnitude. Co-founded by Muriel Médard, co-inventor of RLNC, and a team of industry experts, Optimum introduces a breakthrough in Web3 infrastructure. Blockchains—often called world computers—lack a critical component for infinite scalability: a real-time virtual memory. Our memory infrastructure enables high-speed data propagation, fast access, and secure updates, scaling the world computer. Backers include 1kx, Spartan, Robot Ventures, Finality Capital, Triton Capital (fka Kraken Ventures), CMT Digital, SNZ and others. Learn more at getoptimum.xyz Role Overview: As Chief Protocol Economist, you will design, model, and guide the economic architecture that powers Optimum’s ecosystem. You’ll define the core mechanisms driving incentives, pricing, and equilibrium across the Optimum network, ensuring long-term sustainability, efficiency, and value creation. You will work at the intersection of game theory, mechanism design, and protocol engineering, collaborating closely with the executive team, product, and BD to shape Optimum’s market structure and token economy. Key Responsibilities • Protocol Design & Incentive Modeling: • Architect and model the incentive mechanisms that align validators, Flexnode operators, and network participants across multiple L1/L2s around performance and reliability. • Tokenomics & Monetary Policy: • Lead the design and simulation of Optimum’s token economy, including game theory, reward mechanisms, staking parameters, and velocity controls. • Marketplace Economics: • Define pricing mechanisms for bandwidth, latency, and memory resources across our product offerings. Develop dynamic fee models and equilibrium analyses. • Simulation & Analysis: • Build and analyze on-chain economic simulations to stress-test incentive models under various adoption and market conditions. • Cross-Functional Collaboration: • Partner with product & engineering to translate models into executable logic; with BD to align incentives for partner and community adoption; and with strategy to inform market narratives. • Research & Benchmarking: • Stay at the forefront of crypto-economic research, benchmarking against relevant projects to ensure Optimum’s economic design leads the industry. Required Background • 3+ years experience in tokenomics, crypto-economic design, or protocol-level modeling • Demonstrated experience designing and modeling token or network economies at scale • Strong understanding of blockchain infrastructure (validators, L1/L2 mechanics, MEV, etc.) • Background in economics, applied math, or quantitative finance, with a focus on incentive systems or market design would be preferred • High level of comfort in acquiring new technical knowledge • Proficiency in quantitative tools (Python, R, or equivalent modeling software) • Excellent communication skills and ability to convey complex economic ideas to technical and non-technical audiences What We Offer • Opportunity to shape and build a community for a cutting-edge tech start-up • Competitive compensation package, including token incentives • Remote-first work environment with flexible hours • Collaborative team culture that values innovation and growth • Resources to attend industry conferences and events Don’t Meet Every Requirement? We still encourage you to apply! If you’re passionate about designing the next generation of decentralized economic systems, we’d love to hear from you. Apply tot his job