How to become a blockchain engineer
In most basic terms, blockchain is a decentralized ledger technology that makes the record of digital assets transparent and immutable. It is the basis of cryptocurrency, smart contracts and other “hot” technology. If you want to master the blockchain, what skills do you need?
First, it is important to distinguish between blockchain developers and blockchain software developers. A core blockchain developer works on the architecture and protocols of the blockchain system, including the design and development of platforms such as Hyperledger and Ethereum.
Meanwhile, a blockchain software developer uses the systems created by core developers to build decentralized apps that take advantage of blockchain technology for their employer.
Blockchain requires the mastery of many skills
Blockchain software developers must be software developers, network gurus and managers of assets, infrastructure and processes all rolled into one. “Blockchain engineers need to be able to understand complex data structures and create algorithms, apply those ideas to their businesses or industry,” says Erica Cuttitta, vice president of engineering, skills development at Pluralsight. “This is a very specialized role and we are seeing more and more Blockchain uses in industries other than just cryptocurrency.”
Blockchain engineers can provide access and security to digital assets within a company, meaning that individuals in this role have a high degree of responsibility and trust. “You can’t just walk into a blockchain engineer job interview because you have some software engineering experience,” Cuttitta adds.
This means that blockchain engineers must have an advanced understanding of architecture systems, planning and execution of network design, and a basic understanding of industry standards for blockchain technology.
Many blockchain engineers start out as other types of engineers or developers. “They may see a path to blockchain after working as a software engineer or getting a degree in computer science,” says Cuttitta. “The path to becoming a blockchain engineer can be more difficult than other engineering roles, but the role is growing in importance every year.”
For those who want to quickly learn the necessary skills, more and more bootcamps are providing good candidates for entry-level positions in engineering. “These are typically fast-paced 12-16 week programs designed to give you a foundation in blockchain development,” she says. “They are also usually cheaper than a 4-year degree program. However, not all employers will hire bootcamp graduates.”
Understand different Blockchain platforms
Piers Ridyard, CEO of RDX Works, says the key technical skills needed for a blockchain engineer include proficiency in at least one programming language. Also important is an understanding of blockchain platforms such as Ethereum, Radix or Solana, including the differences in architecture and concepts such as “finality”.
“Blockchain engineers also need knowledge of smart contracts and smart contract programming languages such as Solidity, for Ethereum-based projects, Scrypto, for Radix-based projects, and Rust for Solana-based projects.”
Additional skills that are good to have include experience in cryptography and security protocols, as well as a good grasp of data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems.
Ridyard agrees that a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field is usually helpful: “While no specific certification is required to become a blockchain engineer, certifications such as Certified Blockchain Developer (CBD) or Certified Blockchain Solution Architect ( CBSA) can help validate your skills and improve your employability.”
Where to start with Blockchain Engineering
For those just starting out, Thanh Nguyen, co-founder of Verichains, suggests learning how to develop smart contracts on Ethereum, specifically the basics of Solidity programming, and practice writing simple contracts using popular tutorials found on Google or YouTube.
“Join online communities and forums dedicated to blockchain technology to connect with other developers, ask questions and share knowledge,” he advises. “Contribute to open source blockchain projects to gain hands-on experience and build a portfolio of work, and keep up to date with the latest trends in the field by attending conferences, reading industry publications, and taking online courses.”
It is important to be patient and persistent while building skills and knowledge in blockchain engineering, a relatively new field.
Opportunities for career development
When it comes to potential career paths for a blockchain engineer, there are traditional technology companies that use blockchain in various products; in that context, you will likely work with blockchain as part of your regular duties as a software engineer.
For those who want to become blockchain contractors or freelancers, pay attention to the public blockchain space, where new types of structures are emerging such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), airdrops (bonuses for contributing code/holding tokens) and grants (lumps of money/code offered to the community to provide specific code or improvements to a project).
“These present new ways to build an individual portfolio career based on coding and managing piecemeal work,” explains Jon Geater, CTO and co-founder at RKVST. “This is an exciting new space, and the code and technology are moving incredibly fast. The documentation isn’t always good, and the Stack Overflow factor isn’t as good here as it is for web development, so you have to get into the projects, use them and engage with their online communities.”
As you progress in a blockchain engineering career, there are opportunities to become a senior blockchain engineer, blockchain engineering manager or director, or even an industry-level thought leader.
“The exciting thing about this career path is that you can have an impact on future blockchain usage for decades to come,” says Cuttitta. “We are just beginning to understand and implement the power behind this technology, so getting into blockchain now could create a very exciting and lucrative career.”
Nguyen points to several avenues for career development as a blockchain engineer, including the role of a blockchain consultant: one who guides organizations in incorporating blockchain technology into their operations, from choosing platforms to implementing solutions.
“A technical manager manages a team of blockchain developers and oversees the development of blockchain applications to ensure on-time and on-budget completion,” he explains. “Experienced blockchain engineers can become security engineers to assess smart contract flaws and blockchain components for potential vulnerabilities.”
Testing the Blockchain Waters
Cuttitta says her most important piece of advice to would-be blockchain engineers is to try it before you commit your life to it. “You can do this by finding current blockchain engineers through local universities or bootcamps and connecting with former students who are currently working in the industry,” she says.
In addition, individuals can seek out companies using blockchain technology by doing a quick search for companies hiring for blockchain engineers. “Contact these companies or recruiters and see if you can talk to one of their current blockchain engineers about their day-to-day work, challenges and rewards,” she advises. “It’s also a good idea to find a mentor who is currently in this role and ask if you can shadow them or ask them questions to see if this is the right job for you.”
