Software Engineer - Frontend Focus

About Alpen Labs

Alpen Labs is a New York-based startup founded in 2022 by four MIT alumni. Our mission is to build universal rails for money by creating a scalable, private and programmable Bitcoin ecosystem. We're achieving this through cutting-edge innovations in zero-knowledge cryptography and offchain solutions, without compromising Bitcoin's fundamental principles.

This endeavor is not just about technological advancement but a step towards a more resilient, free, and prosperous global society. Our current team consists of engineers and researchers from companies like Blockstream Research, Palantir, and Nethermind. We invite passionate individuals to join us in navigating this complex, yet rewarding journey towards redefining financial sovereignty.

Role Overview

As a Frontend Engineer within our core engineering team, you will play a crucial role in building intuitive, high-performance, and visually compelling user interfaces for our products and internal tools. We are looking for someone who is obsessed with design, performance, and cutting-edge tech. If you live and breathe frontend development and want to make an impact in the decentralized technology, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

Your duties will vary but here are a few examples of the type of work you’ll be doing;

Front-End Development & UI Engineering

• Develop scalable, responsive, and highly performant front-end applications.
• Implement user interfaces using React, TypeScript, and modern UI frameworks (e.g., Next.js, Vue, Svelte).
• Work closely with designers to build pixel-perfect, accessible, and mobile-friendly experiences.

Design & UX Collaboration

• Translate Figma/Sketch designs into functional, reusable components.
• Ensure consistency in design language, animations, and UI interactions.
• Optimize for a seamless user experience, intuitive navigation, and high accessibility (WCAG standards).

Performance Optimisation & Security

• Ensure fast-loading, low-latency web applications using techniques like code splitting, lazy loading, and WebAssembly.
• Implement best security practices for front-end development (e.g., protecting against XSS, CSRF, and other vulnerabilities).
• Improve SEO, site performance, and progressive enhancement strategies.

What We’re Looking For

Must-Have Skills & Experience

• 3+ years of front-end development experience in production-grade applications.
• Strong proficiency in React.js, TypeScript, and component-based architecture.
• Experience with CSS frameworks & component libraries (Tailwind, Chakra UI, Material UI).
• Strong knowledge of performance optimization for front-end applications.
• Experience in API integration (REST, GraphQL, WebSockets).
• Familiarity with testing frameworks like Jest, Cypress, or React Testing Library.
• Demonstrate a strong aptitude for solving complex problems.
• Lead by example through strong commitment to work, consistently delivering high-quality results.
• Showcase effective communication skills and a strong collaborative spirit.

Nice-to-Have (Bonus Skills!)

• Experience working on Bitcoin, Web3, or decentralized finance (DeFi) apps.
• Familiarity with Web3.js, viem, or Bitcoin-related UI development.
• Experience with visualization tools (D3.js, Chart.js) for blockchain analytics.
• Interest in UX design, animations, and micro-interactions (Framer Motion, GSAP).
• Backend familiarity with Node.js, Rust, or Go is a plus.

What we offer:

What we extend to our new hires is an invitation to actively contribute to the evolution of cutting-edge technologies within the blockchain space. This presents a unique opportunity to innovate and devise creative solutions for complex engineering challenges. To support your journey, we commit to providing all the resources necessary for your learning, growth, and productivity.

Moreover, our compensation package is designed to mirror the passion, dedication, and hard work you invest in your role. We recognize and appreciate your contributions by aligning your exceptional commitment with generous compensation.