Alpen Labs Inc.

Building the Future of Bitcoin with ZK Infrastructure

Alpen Labs is a New York-based startup on a mission to build universal rails for money by creating a scalable, private, and programmable Bitcoin ecosystem. Founded in 2022 by four MIT alumni, the company is leveraging zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography and offchain solutions to expand global financial access without compromising Bitcoin's fundamental principles. With a team of engineers and researchers from industry heavyweights like Blockstream, Palantir, and Nethermind, Alpen Labs recently secured a total of $19.1 million in funding—including a $10.6 million seed round led by Ribbit Capital and an $8.5 million strategic round co-led by DBA and Cyber Fund.

A Culture of Mission-Driven Innovation

Alpen Labs fosters a high-trust, fast-paced environment centered around technical excellence and open collaboration. The team operates with a strong focus on reliability and performance, essential traits when building foundational infrastructure for the world's most secure blockchain. Engineers are encouraged to take ownership of their projects, from architecture design to deployment, and there is a deep appreciation for clear documentation and good developer experience. The remote-first culture ensures that the team remains focused and unblocked while contributing to cutting-edge technologies.

What You'll Actually Do

As a member of the Alpen Labs team, you will be deeply involved in systems programming and full-stack development. The technical stack leans heavily on Rust, Go, and EVM-compatible L2 technologies. Whether you are an Engineering Team Lead guiding architecture decisions and mentoring a team, or a Site Reliability Engineer ensuring the production-grade infrastructure runs flawlessly, your work will directly impact the protocol's core components. You will collaborate closely with product, protocol, and infrastructure teams to define roadmap priorities and ship high-impact code that scales Bitcoin's capabilities.

Compensation & Benefits

Alpen Labs offers a compensation package designed to mirror the passion and dedication of its team members. While specific salary bands are not publicly disclosed, the company emphasizes that they provide generous compensation to recognize exceptional commitment. As an early-stage, well-funded startup, employees can expect competitive equity packages and the opportunity to actively shape the evolution of blockchain technology. The remote-first model also provides flexibility, with a preference for candidates in the NAMER region or New York City.

The Interview Process

Given the highly technical nature of the work, the interview process at Alpen Labs is rigorous and focuses on systems programming, distributed systems, and problem-solving capabilities. Candidates can expect a mix of technical assessments, architecture design discussions, and behavioral interviews to gauge their alignment with the company's mission and high-trust culture. The process is designed to identify individuals who are not only skilled coders but also passionate about redefining financial sovereignty.

Why Join / Why Not

Why Join: If you are passionate about Bitcoin, zero-knowledge proofs, and building foundational infrastructure that could redefine global finance, Alpen Labs offers a unique opportunity to work alongside top-tier talent from MIT and leading crypto firms. The recent $19.1M funding provides a solid runway to tackle complex engineering challenges in a remote-first, high-trust environment.

Why Not: The work is highly specialized and requires deep expertise in Rust, distributed systems, and cryptography. If you prefer building consumer-facing applications or are uncomfortable with the inherent volatility and fast pace of early-stage crypto startups, this might not be the right fit. The lack of public salary data also means compensation expectations will need to be navigated during the interview process.