Head of Defi / OPM
Job Description
OP Labs is the team building the technology behind Optimism, the leading blockchain infrastructure provider powering 65% of all Layer 2 transactions. Our open-source OP Stack enables developers and enterprises to launch scalable, secure, and customizable onchain networks with ease. Backed by a16z, Paradigm, and others, OP Labs has raised over $175M to drive the next generation of onchain innovation.
Role and Responsibilities
Make OP Mainnet the canonical example of what is possible when you deploy a chain in the Superchain. It is one of the most performant, liquid, and strategically important chains in the crypto ecosystem. It will serve as a neutral launchpad for enterprises to deploy who later expect to launch their own chains. You will own the P&L, growth trajectory, and strategic positioning of OP Mainnet as the flagship L2 that sets the benchmark for performance, ecosystem maturity, and community trust.
You’ll operate as the CEO of the chain: orchestrating Product, BD, Partnerships, and Marketing through influence and alignment. Your goal is to turn OP Mainnet from a shared resource into a competitive advantage - the canonical home for DeFi, stablecoins, and next-generation on-chain apps.
What are the role responsibilities
Strategy & Ownership
- •Define and execute the long-term vision and north-star metrics for OP Mainnet (TVL, DAU, active protocols, ecosystem liquidity).
- •Act as the single point of accountability for OP Mainnet performance - balancing growth, stability, and ecosystem alignment.
- •Lead quarterly planning across Product, BD, and Marketing to ensure OP Mainnet priorities are reflected in the broader org roadmap.
- •Own the OP Mainnet narrative - internally and externally (developer, protocol, and user perception).
Ecosystem Growth & Partnerships
- •Drive top-tier protocol and ecosystem growth on OP Mainnet: DeFi, consumer, stablecoins, and infrastructure - with the goal of enabling a neutral launchpad for enterprises.
- •Work with BD and Partnerships teams to identify and prioritize integrations that materially drive TVL and user activity.
- •Oversee incentive design and capital deployment strategies (in coordination Foundation).
- •Create playbooks for high-impact use cases (stablecoins, yield, staking, payments) and coordinate partner execution.
Product & Infrastructure Coordination
- •Collaborate with the Product and Engineering teams to define OP Mainnet-specific roadmap priorities (performance, cost, features).
- •Translate ecosystem needs into actionable technical feedback loops for the OP Stack and Superchain roadmap.
- •Ensure OP Mainnet serves as the proving ground for new stack features before Superchain-wide deployment.
Marketing & Positioning
- •Partner with Marketing to shape the OP Mainnet narrative: why builders and users should choose it, what differentiates it, and how It will serve as a neutral launchpad for enterprises to deploy who later expect to launch their own chains.
- •Own launch readiness for key ecosystem milestones (major protocol launches, Superchain upgrades, liquidity campaigns).
- •Serve as public-facing spokesperson where appropriate - conferences, governance calls, key partner events.
Metrics, Reporting & Accountability
- •Define and own the metrics that matter:
- •Enterprises who deploy on OP Mainnet and then graduate to launching their own chain
- •TVL, DAU/MAU, volume, active protocols
- •Fee evenue, cost efficiency, liquidity growth
- •Contribution to Superchain influence
- •Build clear reporting for leadership and governance stakeholders
- •Operate as the “bridge” between OP Mainnet execution and Foundation strategy - aligning short-term results with long-term ecosystem goals.
Cross-Functional Leadership
You’ll have dotted-line collaboration with
- •BD & Partnerships: For protocol acquisition, ecosystem incentives, and integration pipelines.
- •Product & Engineering: For prioritizing OP Mainnet features, rollouts, and managed upgrade coordination.
- •Marketing: For narrative, campaign execution, and ecosystem storytelling.
- •Finance & Governance: For budget planning, onchain reporting, and incentive governance alignment.
Your success depends on influence, clarity, and velocity.
What skills do you bring
- •Ecosystem Operator: 6–10+ years in DeFi, L1/L2, or crypto-native ecosystem leadership (e.g., chain GM, growth lead, protocol BD head).
- •Strategic Generalist: Equally comfortable designing an incentives flywheel or debating rollup architecture tradeoffs.
- •Growth Obsessed: You’ve built ecosystems from 0 → 1 and 1 → 100 - with data-driven intuition for what moves the needle.
- •Diplomatic Executor: You can manage up, sideways, and externally - aligning multiple orgs and stakeholders without direct authority.
- •Credible Voice: You have the trust of developers, partners, and governance participants - and the judgment to speak for OP Mainnet publicly.
What will you like about us
- •We take care of our employees. Competitive compensation, fully paid medical, dental, and vision, and a 4% 401K match.
- •We take pride in the accomplishments of our teammates and support each other in doing the best work of our careers.
- •Our team is a diverse group of people from varied backgrounds. We cherish our eclecticism and consider it a great strength.
- •We’re fully remote, deeply engaged, highly skilled, and like to have fun.
- •We think long-term. Our founders have been scaling Ethereum since 2015.
- •Learn more about our interviewing here!
We are aware of fraudulent individuals falsely claiming to represent OP Labs in recruitment activities. Please note:
- •All official communication will come from an @oplabs.co email address, or from a verified Linked profile.
- •We will never ask for payment, banking information, or personal identification details at any stage of our hiring process.
- •All current openings are listed exclusively on our official careers page and linked from our verified social profiles.
- •If you’re ever unsure about a communication that claims to be from OP Labs, please contact us directly at people@oplabs.co to verify authenticity.
Your safety and trust are very important to us. Thank you for helping us prevent fraud.
About OP Labs
OP Labs is at the forefront of the Web3 revolution, dedicated to building the foundational infrastructure for the Superchain and scaling the Ethereum ecosystem. As a leading contributor to Optimism's Layer 2 scaling solution, we are committed to making blockchain technology accessible, efficient, and robust for millions of users worldwide. Our work directly impacts the future of decentralized applications, DeFi, and the broader crypto space by providing a fast, secure, and cost-effective environment for innovation. We foster a collaborative and intellectually stimulating culture, driven by a shared passion for open-source development and cryptographic research. At OP Labs, every team member is empowered to take ownership, contribute impactful work, and continuously learn within a remote-first, globally distributed team. We value transparency, rigorous engineering, and a commitment to Optimism's 'Impact = Profit' philosophy, ensuring our contributions not only advance technology but also benefit the public good. Join OP Labs to shape the next era of blockchain technology. If you're an ambitious engineer, researcher, or contributor looking to make a significant mark in Web3, scaling solutions, and decentralized networks, you'll find unparalleled opportunities to innovate and grow with us. We offer a chance to work on cutting-edge problems, collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the crypto industry, and contribute to a mission that's fundamentally reshaping the digital world.
Ready to Apply?
To submit your application for this position, please visit OP Labs's official website and follow their application process.