Key Takeaways
- Ava Labs is a Most Loved Workplace® 2025 & 2026 — two consecutive years of verified recognition.
- The Senior Backend Engineer, Institutional Custody role puts you at the cutting edge of blockchain infrastructure for institutional finance.
- Ava Labs offers competitive salary, company equity, 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, and flexible remote work.
- Founded by Cornell University computer scientists, the team combines world-class technical depth with a genuine builder culture.
What is it like to work at Ava Labs?
Ava Labs is the company behind Avalanche — the fastest smart contracts platform in the blockchain industry by time-to-finality. Working here means joining a team of world-class engineers, economists, and finance experts who share one goal: make financial systems more open and accessible for everyone. The culture is built on trust, autonomy, and a deep passion for shipping things that matter. There is no bureaucracy slowing you down. There is just a team of builders, moving fast with purpose.
Why is the Senior Backend Engineer, Institutional Custody role so exciting?
Institutional custody is one of the most consequential frontiers in Web3 right now. As traditional finance accelerates its move into digital assets, the infrastructure underneath it must be bulletproof, scalable, and fast. As a Senior Backend Engineer on the Institutional Custody team, you are not maintaining legacy code — you are designing the systems that will underpin how institutions interact with blockchain at scale. This is high-impact engineering with real stakes and real visibility.
Ava Labs has earned the Most Loved Workplace® designation in both 2025 and 2026, a verified certification that reflects genuine employee satisfaction and a workplace where engineers thrive. That is not a coincidence — it is the result of intentional culture-building from day one.
What does Ava Labs look for in a backend engineer?
Ava Labs values people who bring a builder mentality. The company's culture DNA is rooted in curiosity-driven innovation, ownership, and collaboration. Senior engineers here are expected to take the lead — to own their projects end-to-end, make architectural decisions, and contribute meaningfully to the direction of the product. You will work alongside some of the sharpest minds in blockchain technology, with direct access to mentorship from industry experts.
If you thrive in an environment where your voice is heard and your decisions shape real products used by institutions worldwide, this is the team for you.
What benefits does Ava Labs offer engineers?
Ava Labs invests heavily in its people. Here is what you can expect as part of the team:
- Compensation & Equity: Competitive salary, company equity, and performance-based bonuses.
- Health & Wellness: Premier medical coverage, FSA up to $7,300 for families, mental health support through Spring Health, and pet insurance.
- Family Support: 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, generous parental leave, and childcare support benefits.
- Flexibility: Remote work options, flexible hours, and protected weekends — so you can do your best work on your terms.
- Growth: Access to industry conferences, continuous learning resources, and mentorship from world-class experts.
Does Ava Labs support diversity and inclusion?
Yes — and it is built into the foundation of how the company operates. Ava Labs maintains a highly diverse management team, a mean gender pay gap below 10%, and mandated unconscious bias training across the organization. Inclusive hiring practices ensure that diverse perspectives fuel the innovation the team is known for.
How does Ava Labs support career growth for engineers?
Engineers at Ava Labs are not siloed into narrow tracks. The company's Ownership & Autonomy value means you will have real say in how projects evolve. Career growth pathways are clear, mentorship is genuine, and the mission — democratizing access to high-performance blockchain infrastructure — gives everyday work a sense of purpose that is hard to find elsewhere. It is the kind of environment where ambitious engineers do not just grow their skills; they grow their impact.
Ava Labs operates from beautiful offices in New York City and Miami, with a globally distributed team that welcomes diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Ready to build something that matters?
If you are a senior backend engineer who wants to work on institutional-grade blockchain infrastructure, alongside a verified Most Loved Workplace® 2025 & 2026 team that genuinely cares about your success, this is your opportunity. Apply for Senior Backend Engineer, Institutional Custody and take the next step in your career at Ava Labs. You can also explore all open roles at Ava Labs to find the perfect fit.