Head of Global Blockchain Research & Development

EY
London
4 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Head of Global Blockchain Research & Development in London - Ernst & Young

Domain Head - Cryptography

Senior NFT Consultant

Director of Cryptography & Security Strategy

Head of Crypto Tax

Core Engineer - DeFi - London (F/M/D)

Head of Global Blockchain Research & Development

Join to apply for the Head of Global Blockchain Research & Development role at EY

Head of Global Blockchain Research & Development

Join to apply for the Head of Global Blockchain Research & Development role at EY

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join EY and help to build a better working world.

Disruption is changing the way the world works. It’s happening quickly and it creates opportunity if you can keep up and even get ahead of it. That’s why we established a dedicated Global Innovation team focused on understanding external forces changing our world and how to do things differently in 6 months, 3 years, 10 years and beyond.

In this shifting landscape, we challenge ourselves to embrace disruption and think differently for our clients. How? By combining the deep experience of our global Tax, Accounting, Advisory and Transactions professionals with start-up thinking. This approach applies an entirely new mindset for today's challenges.

Our global network of EY teams and innovation centers are creating powerful ideas and solutions for organizations and ourselves, especially around opportunities coming from artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics and data and analytics.

The opportunity

You will be a key member of our Global Blockchain Leadership team, an innovative and collaborative group of software engineers, cryptographers, mathematicians, and business strategists who are dedicated to the application of blockchain technology and the development of world-class products. At EY, you will help our clients, some of the most influential companies, explore emergent applications and transform the way the world does business. As Head of Blockchain Research and Development, you will lead a world-class team of mathematicians and software engineers, working to deliver cutting edge EY Blockchain products.

Essential Functions of the Job:

  • Work as a member of the Global Blockchain leadership team to define the long and short business goals.
  • Define and execute the organization’s blockchain research and development strategy, contributing to cutting edge EY Blockchain Products.
  • Manage and support the R&D team to develop new blockchain privacy and scalability technologies, while working as an integral part of the team and making personal contributions.
  • Be a thought leader in blockchain and zero knowledge proof (ZKP) technology.
  • Work with the individual Product Owners for each development team to support their technical roadmaps with appropriate solutions.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration across product teams and other functions to ensure the alignment between technology strategy and other functions of business.
  • Provide input to the budgeting process (both quarterly and annually) for the R&D team.
  • Be aware of wider developments in the field and adjust your strategic approach accordingly.
  • Ensure that the R&D team delivery is compliant to the firm’s standards for quality, risk management and independence.
  • Set performance based KPI’s for the team and drive technical and R&D effectiveness. Work to ensure efficient resource allocation.

Blockchain Technology is a complex emerging capability that is far from mature. Above and beyond any of the “essential” skills for this job, you must have a love of learning and experimentation with new technologies and a passion for learning by doing and leading by example.

This is not purely a management role. You will also be expected to have the technical skills and understanding necessary to be a thought-leader in the field and to make contributions as part of the R&D team.

Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities:

  • Lead by example promoting a proactive approach to identifying issues and presenting solutions and options, and where appropriate, leading to resolution.
  • Encourage and support innovation in others by allowing error, e.g., allowing people to try something new, being open to new ideas.
  • Ability to clearly articulate both problems and proposed solutions.
  • Create an inclusive and flexible environment where people feel they are a valuable part of the team, can communicate openly and constructively challenge one another.
  • Ability to prioritize personal and team workloads to best meet organizational objectives.
  • Provide leadership and direction. Empowered to make decisions and recommend approach based on the results from quality reviews.

Skills And Attributes For Success

  • ZKP Mathematics: Able to develop and use the mathematics of elliptic curve pairing, KZG commitment schemes, inner product arguments, folding, accumulation and other state of the art ZKP technology.
  • Proven ability to provide thought leadership in this field.
  • Development: Able to program advanced mathematics in Rust, making full use of Generics and producing professional, reusable code.
  • Software engineering: Able to design and manage the delivery of a ZKP-enabled blockchain application of production grade.
  • Cryptography: hashes, including modular field hashes, PKCS standards, X509, signatures, elliptic curve cryptography.
  • STEM background, likely to be PhD qualified, although relevant experience is equally acceptable.
  • Previous development/management experience in Agile teams.
  • Understand the volatile nature of the blockchain industry and manage the expectations and work based on the ups and downs.
  • Strong communication skills across all levels of the organization.
  • Blockchain: understand the detail of the Ethereum blockchain: how it works, EIPs, Tokens, popular DeFi solutions, advanced Solidity programming including assembly
  • 10-15 years of technical work experience across various technical departments including proven experience in public blockchain development.

Other Requirements:

  • We follow a hybrid work structure, and the resource is expected to work from the London office 2-3 days in a week. Travel to the office is not paid for and full-time remote is not offered.
  • Occasional work-related travel to other locations.

Job Requirements:

Ideally, you’ll also have:

Passion for technology and applying it to business solutions with a strong interest in blockchain and associated concepts.

What We Look For

We’re interested in self-motivated individuals with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to prioritize shifting workloads in a rapidly changing industry. Someone who can easily function in a collaborative, high demand, performance-driven environment. In addition, we’re looking for people who recognize the accomplishments of the team before the individual and are sought after as people developers. If you’re passionate about problem-solving and helping our clients with some of their most complex issues, this role is for you.

What We Offer You



At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.



Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.



To help create an equitable and inclusive experience during the recruitment process, please inform us as soon as possible about any disability-related adjustments or accommodations you may need.

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.Seniority level

  • Seniority levelExecutive

Employment type

  • Employment typeFull-time

Job function

  • Job functionResearch, Analyst, and Information Technology
  • IndustriesProfessional Services

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at EY by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Head of Research And Development” roles.

London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Senior Director, Manufacturing, Science & Technology

London, England, United Kingdom 2 hours ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 5 hours ago

Deputy Head of Clinical Education and Development

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Senior Director, Manufacturing, Science & Technology

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

Head of Manufacturing, Science & Technology/ MSAT Lead

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Dartford, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Greater London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Greater London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Head of Product Development, Food and Sports

London, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago

Clinical Scientific Expert, Team Lead/Group Head

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Head of Development – Digital Data Hub Trading Firm | £200,000 + Bonus + Benefits | Hybrid – London (Bank)

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

City Of London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Head of Impulse Strategy and Development

St Albans, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Head of Sector Development & Regional Lead

Dartford, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 hour ago

London, England, United Kingdom 58 minutes ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Brentwood, England, United Kingdom 17 hours ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.


#J-18808-Ljbffr

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How Many Blockchain Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Blockchain Job?

If you are navigating the blockchain job market, it can feel like you need to master an entire tech stack before you’re even ready to apply. One job advert mentions Solidity, another talks about Hyperledger Fabric, another lists MetaMask, Hardhat, Git, Truffle, and Web3.js — and that’s before you scroll past three LinkedIn posts about “top blockchain skills for 2026.” It’s no wonder job seekers feel overwhelmed. But here’s the honest truth that many hiring managers quietly agree on: 👉 You don’t need to know every blockchain tool to get hired. 👉 You need to know the right ones for the role you’re targeting — and how to use them to solve real problems. Tools matter, but context and capability matter more. This guide breaks down exactly how many blockchain tools you need to learn, which ones matter for specific roles, and how to position what you know so hiring managers take notice.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Blockchain Job Applications (UK Guide)

Hiring managers in blockchain tech do not start by reading every line of your CV. They scan for credibility, clarity and relevance, and they make an early judgement about whether you can solve real problems in a cutting-edge, evolving landscape. In blockchain and distributed ledger roles—whether in core protocol teams, smart contract development, Web3 infrastructure, compliance/security, or product-focused positions—the strongest applications make the right signals obvious in the first 10–20 seconds. This in-depth guide explains exactly what hiring managers in UK blockchain jobs look for first, how they assess CVs, cover letters and portfolios, and why strong candidates sometimes get overlooked. Use it as a practical checklist before you apply for roles on www.blockchainjobs.uk

The Skills Gap in Blockchain Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Blockchain technology has moved far beyond cryptocurrency headlines. Across finance, supply chains, cybersecurity, gaming, digital identity, healthcare, and public infrastructure, distributed ledger technology is being explored, tested and deployed at scale. Yet despite growing adoption, blockchain employers across the UK consistently report the same problem: a severe shortage of job-ready talent. Graduates emerge with theoretical knowledge, computer science fundamentals, or an interest in decentralisation—but struggle to meet the practical demands of blockchain roles. Vacancies remain open. Startups compete aggressively for experienced hires. Employers spend months searching for candidates who can contribute from day one. The issue is not intelligence. It is not motivation. It is not even demand. The problem is a widening skills gap between blockchain education and real blockchain jobs. This article explores that gap in depth: what universities teach well, what they routinely miss, why the gap exists, what UK employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build sustainable careers in blockchain.