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About Raiku
Raiku is reengineering blockchain infrastructure from first principles to make global digital markets as precise and dependable as physical systems. Built on Solana, our platform delivers deterministic execution, guaranteed inclusion, and low-latency performance—solving the foundational failures that cause transactions to miss, trades to revert, and systems to collapse under pressure. By placing high-performance compute close to where transactions happen and coordinating execution through our advanced scheduling engine, Raiku empowers developers to build scalable, high-performance applications—and gives institutions the reliability and control they demand. We believe financial infrastructure should behave like physics: fast, reliable, and predictable—every time, without exception.
Role Overview
Validator BD Lead
As the Validator BD Lead, you will own and drive Raiku’s validator engagement strategy. You will lead efforts to build relationships with top-tier validators, navigate technical conversations, and ensure successful adoption of Raiku’s infrastructure across the validator ecosystem. This is a critical, high-ownership role that will shape Raiku’s validator strategy, go-to-market efforts, and partnership model as we prepare for mainnet.
Key Responsibilities
Growth Strategy & Validator Partnerships
- Define and execute the validator onboarding and growth strategy, aligned with Raiku’s milestones
- Build and manage the validator BD pipeline, driving clear metrics for adoption and engagement
- Lead outreach and relationship-building efforts with top Solana validators
- Build and maintain deep relationships with key validator operators, ensuring alignment with Raiku’s roadmap
- Advocate for Raiku’s value proposition, communicating benefits to validators and the wider ecosystem
Validator Onboarding & Success Program
- Drive a structured, repeatable onboarding process for validators that ensures long-term success and engagement. Partner closely with the engineering team to ensure technical alignment and smooth validator onboarding
- Design and maintain onboarding guides, validator documentation, and FAQs in line with Raiku’s core components / concepts such as our Sidecar, Ackermann Node and Slot Marketplace
- Proactively support validators through the integration process, including technical troubleshooting.
- Monitor validator adoption post-onboarding and implement feedback loops to improve their experience.
Validator Incentive Design & Feedback
- Collaborate with strategy, BD, engineering and research teams to shape Raiku’s validator incentive model.
- Gather real-world validator insights on reward structures, market needs (e.g., MEV sharing, slot allocation), and upcoming SIMDs.
- Along with the engineering and research teams as well as external specialist service providers, help refine Raiku’s tokenomics, incentive alignment strategies, and validator performance frameworks.
- Advocate for validator needs during incentive model development and Raiku’s economic design process.
Risk Mitigation & Compliance Awareness
- Understand validator risk profiles (e.g., slashing, regulation, compliance) and help design engagement strategies that account for these factors.
- Advise validators on risk areas associated with new features like decoupled block-building and slot marketplace participation.
- Work closely with legal / compliance advisors to ensure validator-facing processes align with relevant regulations and de-risk the Raiku - Validator relationship
Ecosystem Engagement
- Represent Raiku at ecosystem events, validator forums, and technical workshops
- Facilitate educational initiatives and create resources for validator partners
- Act as the primary point of contact for validator stakeholders, addressing concerns and gathering feedback
Market Intelligence & Reporting
- Identify and prioritize validator segments based on stake, network influence, and strategic alignment
- Track Solana validator landscape trends, policy changes (e.g., SIMDs), and emerging technologies
- Provide insights to the product, engineering, and leadership teams to inform roadmap and strategy
- Collaborate with marketing on ecosystem positioning, validator content, and success stories
What We’re Looking For
- 3+ years of experience in blockchain infrastructure, validator operations, or business development roles at Solana native validators
- Deep understanding of the Solana validator ecosystem, MEV dynamics, and network economics
- Proven ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders across the validator and staking landscape
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills
- Startup mentality: ownership, autonomy, and execution in fast-paced environments
Nice to Have
- Experience at a leading validator firm or blockchain infrastructure project
- Existing network of validator partners across Solana and other chains
- Familiarity with block-building, pre-confirmations, and slot marketplace concepts
What We Offer
- A chance to join a category-defining protocol team pushing the frontier of Solana infrastructure
- Competitive salary, token allocation and performance-based bonuses as well as a key role in shaping Raiku’s ecosystem footprint
- Remote-first team with async workflows, a high ownership culture, and deep technical curiosity
- Budget for travel, ecosystem events, and home office setup
