Daniel Helm
Protocol Engineer
Summary
Protocol and systems engineer focused on blockchain infrastructure: app-layer architecture, developer tooling, cross-chain interoperability, and applied research across zk rollups and smart-account / keystore systems. Strong in R&D and rapid prototyping, and in explaining complex technical and cultural topics to varied audiences. Has worked across decentralized web infrastructure, developer platforms, and the fine arts; self-motivated with a wide-ranging curiosity and a pull toward leadership and cross-team roles.
Experience
Principal Protocol Engineer, DogeOS
Jan 2025 - Present
Protocol engineering for Dogecoin-native app-layer infrastructure.
- Design bridge, settlement, data-availability, fee, signing, and verification flows spanning Dogecoin L1, Ethereum L1, and rollup-style execution.
- Extend app-chain and SDK infrastructure ideas from Scroll into Dogecoin-specific protocol architecture.
Research: Special Projects, Scroll
Jun 2024 - Dec 2024
Technical initiatives on smart-account interoperability and multichain infrastructure for Scroll's zkEVM.
- Worked on Keystore and L1SLOAD for cross-chain smart accounts, including a Keystore workshop with Safe at SafeCon Berlin 2024.
- Led the Scroll SDK initiative, turning Scroll's zkEVM stack into reusable infrastructure for deploying custom rollups and app-chains.
Developer Relations Lead, Scroll
Nov 2022 - Jun 2024
Led developer relations and developer experience for Scroll's zkEVM ecosystem.
- Built developer-facing education, workshops, and hackathon programs during Scroll's early ecosystem growth.
- Represented Scroll at ETHGlobal, ETHDenver, ETHIndia, EthCC, and IBW.
Developer Evangelist, Skynet Labs
Oct 2020 - Sep 2022
Led Developer Relations and developer-facing growth and product initiatives for a seed-stage startup building decentralized infrastructure for data storage.
- Oversaw 15 hackathons with over 10 partners, pulling in over 275 developer projects
- Wrote and delivered talks and workshops at developer-focused events, including ETHDenver and ETHNewYork
- Sought out technical partnerships and grants, collaborating with project developers and achieving high-profile partners and grant funding for over $300k
- Actively helped design, architect and build developer and user-facing products
- Organized in-person and online events and meet-ups, including running monthly developer calls
- Rebuilt and oversaw the project's documentation, creating distinct spaces for different audiences
- Created processes for surveying developers and aggregated product data and platform analytics to generate dashboards for better product and audience insight
- Implemented and supervised a Summer Developer Program, sponsoring over 20 hackers for 12 weeks to build open-source projects
- Provided critical feedback to the developer team through building closer relationships with community developers and partner projects, establishing a system for beta testing new products whlie doing QA in the course of coding demos, developing workshops and writing documentation
- Engaged with potential partners, representing Skynet Labs and encouraging technical integrations, resulting in Skynet integration into projects like 1inch, ENS, Metamask, Cloudflare, Ethers.js, Namebase and Nervos.
Partner, Dither
Apr 2013 - Oct 2020
Co-founded a small business focused on web development and digital branding, where I primarily used PHP and Wordpress as a framework for building identity and e-commerce websites. Responsible for back-end coding, server maintenance, R&D and book-keeping. Also did video branding while pursuing personal projects such as producing a live music video web series and a feature-length documentary. Projects have now expanded to include building custom applications for navigating large data sources, large-scale video processing and developing custom online-and-offline technology solutions for clients.
- Devised and developed custom software for helping bring a class-action case that successfully identified class members not included in data from the counter-party's initial discovery responses. This involved a custom Python pipeline for scraping public court records, OCRing scanned documents and creating a React front-end allowing attorneys to explore datasets
- Co-created The Real Enemy, a long-form documentary which screened at film festivals in the US and France and made Reddit's frontpage
Graduate Teaching Assistant, OU School of Visual Arts
Aug 2017 - May 2020
Teaching technical and conceptual classes in the Art, Technology and Culture department. Developed coursework for the undergraduate level in video games, visual programming along with video and other time-based mediums.
Partner, Cheap Rent
Jan 2014 - Jan 2016
Co-founded a small art-oriented print shop focusing on shirts, art prints, and events across Oklahoma. Responsible for developing our web presence, digital processing of imagery, R&D for the print shop and its processes and managing the business side of things.
Generalist, Delo Creative
Jun 2011 - Apr 2013
Jack-of-all-trades role with a small production group creating video and branding content for local clients as well as bands such as The Flaming Lips, Dr. Dog, Amanda Palmer, and BRONCHO. Also responsible for server maintenance and R&D around emerging video, audio and web technologies.
IT Specialist, OU Information Technology
Sep 2006 - Dec 2007
Phone-based tech support, requiring strong communication skills and quickly recognizing a user’s understanding of their problem.