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What is a blockchain engineer?

The thriving blockchain technology sector has created a high necessity for curious minds. It has led to blockchain engineers being some of the highest-paid specialists in the tech sector today. It is a new profession in the realities of the digital age, which is an indispensable link for realizing the potential of prospective digital technologies. They are constantly in short supply, and to be convinced of this, it is enough to visit the sites for posting emptiness and look at the numeral of places offered.

Who is a blockchain engineer?

It is an IT specialist who forms the blockchain. Such a concept means a sequential chain of blocks built per certain rules containing information. This chain cannot be quietly changed or partially removed.

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The concept was applied to the Bitcoin system for the first time. Thus, it is often associated with crypto transactions. Nevertheless, it is also applied in other areas:

  • ⭕ banking;
  • ⭕ medical;
  • ⭕ insurance;
  • ⭕ transport;
  • ⭕ energy and others.

That is where you need to ensure high data storage security and trustworthiness. Relying on the duties and tasks, IT experts performing in the occupation of blockchain are of two kinds:

  1. ⭕ Basic programmers. Reliable for the architectural component. What is a blockchain engineer? He builds a consensus algorithm and network and exercises control over it, monitoring protection.
  2. ⭕ Software experts. They create a decentralized application operating the achievements of programmers of the previous specialization.
What is a blockchain engineer

What does a blockchain engineer do

It is worth learning what a blockchain is. It has special encryption and data transfer. Information is stored in encrypted and fragmented form in separate files – “blocks”. These blocks are spread among all parties in the system, each of which has its encrypted database instance. From participants, blocks are added to an already existing sequence of blocks – a “chain”. It is not possible to change or delete data in the chain.

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The operation can be easily illustrated with an example from banking practice. For example, you pay with a bank card for a purchase in a store. As it happens in a conventional system: the cash register in the store sends the purchase data to the bank server, where your account information is stored. If enough funds are in the account, the server sends data to the store that the money has been debited.

The purchase is confirmed, and money is debited from your account and transferred to the store account. It would seem that everything is quite convenient and reliable, but this system has a fatal vulnerability – it completely depends on the operation of the banking server. If an attacker manages to gain entry to the server, he can change details (actually manage your money) at his discretion. In a blockchain system, this is impossible: data on all accounts in encrypted form is simultaneously stored by ALL participants in the system, and the others will immediately notice any attempt by one of them to make any changes.

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Special algorithms ensure data encryption in blocks, their transfer, and the synchronization of copies in chains. It is their growth and configuration that blockchain developers are engaged in. What do blockchain engineers do:

  • ⭕ is liable for the software life cycle;
  • ⭕ creates an architectural component and smart algorithms;
  • ⭕ deals with optimizing protocols and performs other actions to create and control a blockchain with stored data.

What Qualities Does a  Developer Need?

If we are talking about encryption technology, such a specialist should perform with the code and have a fine knowledge of cryptography, probability theory and a complete comprehension of the principles. Programming is the second most significant aspect of the job, and he must master mainly low-level languages:

  • ⭕ TypeScript/JavaScript and specific frameworks such as web3.js, node.js, AngularJS, and others;
  • ⭕ web assembly;
  • ⭕ C/C++;
  • ⭕ golang;
  • ⭕ solidity.

There are even specific technologies applicable only in this industry: the R3 Corda, Trufflesuite (ConsenSys) frameworks, and others. The most important skill of a specialist is a code review and the capacity to test the system. The reality is that blockchain systems are very sensitive to the code quality since they perform in a decentralized manner, and any hack can cost the customer a lot of money. It imposes a high responsibility on the creator.

Advantages and disadvantages

The pros: high pay, fascinating and useful work, high demand, insider access to the cryptocurrency market. The cons: Difficult entry into the profession. Just getting a job as a junior will not work. You require understanding and at least a little background in programming.

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This job will satisfy and delight you if you pump the following: systems thinking and analytical skills, self-organization and perseverance, communication mastery. The most significant thing is the ability to constantly learn and keep abreast because the area is very young and has a rapid development, and events change daily.

The demand for the profession and career prospects

Many experts say that the future lies behind the blockchain system. This is a unique revolutionary technology that solves data storage safety difficulties. Each transaction in the chain is translucent, and nothing may be corrected for profit or stolen.

One more pro is decentralization. It suggests that each trade is performed without the participation of mediators. Diverse industry sectors can greatly decrease prices.

Since it is in need and will only grow in the future, people ought to operate with it – which is what developers do. About 150 thousand vacuities in this area are already posted on LinkedIn (a social network for finding and establishing business contracts). The demand for employees is high, but few specialists still exist. Moreover, the demand for programmers in this area will only grow.

what does a blockchain engineer do

Where he works

A specialist can work in a variety of places:

  • ⭕ Banks and fintech. Blockchain allows you to safely store data, prevent fraudsters, complete transactions without mediators, and make trades faster and cheaper. Now many banks are moving in this direction.
  • ⭕ Service companies: insurance, medicine, transport – all services where you need to store large amounts of data about people safely.
  • ⭕ Politics – for instance, fair elections can be organized due to decentralization and the inability to change data.
  • ⭕ IT companies.
  • ⭕ ICO (crypto sphere).
  • ⭕ Energy – technology allows you to reduce the cost of infrastructure and reports to a minimum.

How to become a blockchain engineer

Learn online courses. This is the easiest and does not take as much time as studying at a university or on your own. Why is it sufficient:

  • ⭕ you study only the necessary areas of learning;
  • ⭕ get reliable sources of information, tips, and working life hacks from experts;
  • ⭕ get practical experience;
  • ⭕ combine study with current work;
  • ⭕ after graduation, you will receive a diploma and a full-fledged profession;
  • ⭕ you can get a job right after the study.

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We have repeatedly said that blockchain is a young field in IT. This is the key point. What do blockchain engineers do? Online courses will help you see the systemic picture and vectors in which you must grow and avoid mistakes. The most useful option is to combine study in courses with independent study.

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