Head of Security

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 Overview

Nexus 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