Senior Compiler Engineer (Miden)

As a Senior Compiler Engineer at Polygon Labs, your primary responsibilities will include developing the Miden compiler toolchain, enhancing the Rust and WebAssembly frontends, and creating a robust backend for Miden Assembly. You'll be tasked with implementing new features, optimizing the compiler, and improving the overall developer experience. Additionally, you'll actively participate in design discussions and work closely with experts to gather feedback on the compiler's usability.

To apply for the Senior Compiler Engineer role at Polygon Labs, candidates should have prior experience with production compilers, such as clang/gcc or LLVM/MLIR. A strong passion for compiler development and a willingness to learn new complex topics quickly are essential. Proficiency in Rust and familiarity with smart contracts and Solidity are highly preferred. The ideal candidate should also have a keen interest in zero-knowledge proofs and programming language design.

The Miden compiler is designed with a focus on developer experience at Polygon Labs, aiming to streamline the process of creating and deploying applications on the Miden zkRollup. It features user-friendly tooling for compiling and debugging code, alongside optimizations that enhance performance. The team values developer feedback to continuously improve the tooling, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of blockchain developers.

Polygon Labs fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment where collaboration and creativity are encouraged. As a Senior Compiler Engineer, you will be part of a team that values intellectual curiosity and a passion for innovation. The company promotes work-life balance through flexible time off policies and invests in employee well-being with wellness initiatives. You'll be supported throughout the recruitment process, with accommodations available for those with disabilities.

At Polygon Labs, professional development is a priority for all employees, including Senior Compiler Engineers. You will have access to continuous learning resources, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to collaborate on cutting-edge blockchain technologies. The inclusive culture encourages sharing knowledge and staying updated with the latest advancements in compiler technology, ensuring you are always at the forefront of your field.

In your response, be sure to highlight specific compilers you've worked on, such as clang, GCC, or LLVM. Discuss the roles you've played in projects, the challenges faced, and how your contributions led to successful outcomes. Being able to detail both the technical and team-oriented aspects of your work will indicate your comprehensive experience in compiler development.

When answering, emphasize a systematic method for identifying and fixing bugs, such as reproducing issues, utilizing debugging tools, or collaborating with team members for diverse perspectives. Include examples of specific types of bugs you've dealt with and how you approached resolving them to demonstrate your practical problem-solving skills.

Show your commitment to continuous learning by mentioning specific resources such as industry conferences, online courses, or relevant publications. You can discuss how you implement the latest techniques into your work, which showcases your proactive attitude towards personal growth in the field of compiler engineering.

Provide detailed strategies that you've successfully used in past projects, such as algorithmic improvements, leveraging intermediate representations, or enhancing code generation phases. Explain how these strategies improved compilation speed or runtime performance, illustrating your understanding of both the theory and practical applications of optimization techniques.

Discuss your hands-on experience with Rust, including any projects where you used Rust to develop components of a compiler or related tools. Highlight its unique features, such as memory safety and concurrency, and how they have influenced your approach to building safe and efficient compilers.

Articulate your passion for blockchain technology and the significance of zkRollups in enhancing scalability and privacy. Explain what excites you about the development of the Miden compiler and how you see your skills aligning with the goals of the project to help you demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for the role.

Discuss your collaborative mindset, emphasizing the importance of open communication and constructive feedback. Provide examples where your input shaped design decisions or where you adapted based on team discussions to showcase your ability to work within a diverse team effectively.

Demonstrate your insights into account abstraction and its implications for user experience and smart contract development. Discuss its role in enhancing flexibility and usability in blockchain systems, linking it back to how it might integrate with your work on the Miden compiler.

Illustrate your task management skills by discussing techniques such as Agile methodologies or prioritizing based on project deadlines and resource availability. Explain how you ensure quality and performance are maintained while addressing multiple projects simultaneously.

Share your thoughts on emerging trends like use of AI/ML in compiler optimization, advancements in parallel execution, and integration of new language features. Emphasize that you are enthusiastic about staying ahead of these trends and continuously improving the tools that serve developers.