Nick Marek

Senior MEV Engineer

5 years creating, optimizing & auditing production systems

formerly SMG (acquired by ConsenSys)

Background

5 years of deep MEV infrastructure experience at SMG, a startup that was acquired by ConsenSys in 2023

Professional headshot

Nick Marek

SMG (Acquired by ConsenSys)2020-2025
MEV Infrastructure & DeFi Development Company

Professional Experience

As Senior MEV Engineer at SMG, I led the development of the inhouse MEV searcher from inception to production scale. I scaled the searcher to support over 1600 tokens, developed a custom Geth fork achieving 30% performance improvements over Infura Premium nodes, and integrated searcher and node with all major DeFi protocols. Beyond core development, I managed MEV searcher asset allocation and portfolio optimization, integrated with exclusive order flow sources like MEVBlocker and MetaMask Smart Transactions, and maintained our infrastructure on AWS EC2 instances. I also managed team multisig wallets for asset management, participated in smart contract auditing processes with external auditors, and developed comprehensive monitoring systems by combining on-chain data and events with Datadog. My work spanned from low-level blockchain optimizations to high-level trading strategies, always focusing on production reliability and profitability.

In recent months, I've been extensively exploring AI coding assistants in my private projects, treating them as powerful productivity tools that require careful integration. My approach mirrors working with a junior developer - delegating well-defined, bounded tasks while maintaining strict code review practices. I've found that AI excels at accelerating boilerplate generation and pattern implementation, achieving 30-50% productivity gains without compromising security or quality. The key is understanding when NOT to use AI: complex architectural decisions, security-critical code, or cross-system debugging still require human expertise. Every line of AI-generated code undergoes the same rigorous review process as human-written code, ensuring that increased velocity never comes at the expense of reliability or security.

ConsenSys Acquisition (2023)

SMG was acquired by ConsenSys in 2023, recognizing our team's expertise in MEV infrastructure and DeFi protocol development. Following the acquisition, I continued working on advanced blockchain systems and maintained long-term contract relationships with ConsenSys while expanding my expertise in production MEV operations.

EducationHochschule für Technik Stuttgart2020
Bachelor of Science in Business Informatics (Wirtschaftsinformatik)
2020
B.Sc. Business Informatics
2020
Joined SMG
2023
ConsenSys Acquisition
2025
Open to New Opportunities

MEV Infrastructure & DeFi Projects

Production MEV systems and advanced Solidity implementations from 5 years at SMG, acquired by ConsenSys in 2023

MEV Searcher
Production MEV bot specialized in atomic arbitrage, only executing transactions with guaranteed profit. The searcher supports 1600+ tokens across 10+ major DeFi protocols including Uniswap, Compound, Aave, Curve, and SushiSwap. The bot uses advanced arbitrage strategies like smart routing and bundle backrunning. The system leverages advanced Solidity techniques like Diamond Proxy Pattern, inline Assembly, and Gas Optimizations. The searcher can trade using its own funds for maximum gas efficiency or leverage flash loans and UniswapV3 flash swaps for larger opportunities. The bot includes its own price oracle allowing profit extraction in any arbitrary token. The searcher features time machine debugging using archive nodes.
Atomic arbitrage bot with guaranteed profit execution and custom price oracle across 1600+ tokens

Technologies

SolidityPythonCythonAssemblyManaged RedisDatadogAWS EC2MEVBlocker
Custom Geth Fork (Open Source)
Custom Ethereum client achieving 30% performance improvement and 0.5s block discovery advantage over Infura Premium nodes. Optimized for MEV operations with intelligent block data delivery, bytecode manipulation, and advanced bundle simulation features.
30% faster bundle simulation with pre-computed MEV data delivery and bytecode manipulation on each new block

Technologies

GoGethEthereumBundle SimulationBytecode Manipulationeth-dockerAWS
Code
0x-Inspired Trading Protocol
Co-created custom trading protocol with offline orderbook and searcher-based execution system. Contributed to auditing, gas optimization, testing and debugging while designing and developing the architecture. Integrated it into our MEV searcher for deep testing and used in live demos.
Offline orderbook with searcher backrunning for automated profit optimization

Technologies

Solidity0x ProtocolOrder MatchingMEV IntegrationTesting Suite
On-Chain Analytics & Monitoring Suite
Built comprehensive on-chain analytics platform that eliminated hours of manual transaction analysis via Etherscan. The system automatically tracks on-chain events, sends real-time alerts for important activities, and stores all data in a PostgreSQL database for historical analysis. This automation enabled instant access to live reports and dashboards, replacing tedious manual workflows with automated insights that update continuously throughout the day.

For production infrastructure, I implemented full-stack monitoring using Datadog across all staging and production servers. The monitoring suite tracks server health metrics, filters application logs for critical events, and maintains dashboards for key performance indicators. This proactive approach allows us to identify negative trends and intervene before issues impact production, significantly reducing downtime and preventing potential losses.
Automated workflows eliminated manual analysis and prevented production issues

Technologies

PythonPostgreSQLDatadogAWSEvent ProcessingAutomated Workflows

What I'm Looking For

I'm selective about opportunities that align with my expertise and work style. I thrive in results-oriented environments where technical excellence matters more than meeting attendance. I particularly excel in complex smart contract development or sophisticated backend architecture that requires deep focus.

I Excel In

  • Autonomous work environments with minimal meeting overhead
  • Async-first communication
  • Flexible hours
  • Companies that protect deep work time for complex technical problems
  • Remote-first cultures where results speak louder than presence

Red Flags

  • Daily standups
  • Camera-on policies
  • Excessive check-ins
  • Micromanagement approaches that interrupt deep technical work

If you're building serious blockchain infrastructure and value engineers who deliver exceptional results with minimal oversight, let's discuss how my expertise can improve your team's productivity and help you reach your goals.

How I Work With Teams

Beyond technical execution, I believe great blockchain solutions emerge from effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Helping Others Grow
I've onboarded 1 junior developer and 3 new team members on DeFi protocols and smart contract architecture, significantly reducing their onboarding time through a structured approach. I first showed them new concepts, then gave them small tasks to implement these ideas, and finally we debugged or optimized their solutions together in pair programming sessions. My approach focuses on building confidence alongside competence - I create safe environments for questions and mistakes, which has resulted in all of my colleagues successfully contributing to production code within their first month.
Working with Non-Engineers
Working with ConsenSys finance teams, I built an automated profit tracking system that monitors on-chain transactions. The system scales to any number of wallets and is currently tracking over 50 in production. The finance team was previously unable to read and understand complex arbitrage transactions at all - my system translates these complex DeFi mechanics into clear business metrics, making P&L tracking possible for the first time while eliminating the need for manual transaction categorization entirely.
Building Secure Code
I've participated in smart contract audits with firms including Nethermind for our trading protocol. As a developer owning my part of the codebase, I helped auditors understand our system during initial calls, remained available for questions during their review, and participated in findings presentations. We then discussed and implemented their recommendations, resulting in final audit artifacts. These audits were exclusively for the trading protocol - our MEV searcher remains highly confidential and has never been shared outside the core development team.
Simplicity Wins
I believe in finding the simplest solution that works. When our MEV searcher's API batching logic for new block notifications became unstable and error-prone, I took a step back to rethink the architecture. Instead of patching the existing system, I built our own GETH fork that eliminated the need for external API calls entirely. The nodes could now process data directly and efficiently. This simpler architecture meant any team member could now understand and debug the system, eliminating the knowledge silo that had formed around the complex API logic.
Remote-First Philosophy
I prioritize unblocking my colleagues and keeping the overall project goals in mind rather than individual achievements. I work async-first to respect everyone's deep work time - I know how crucial it is to code without interruption for a few hours. I save synchronous calls for when they're truly necessary, though I value weekly standups to keep everyone aligned. When critical issues arise that can't wait, I'm always available for urgent calls. This balanced approach helps the team stay productive while maintaining the human connection that makes remote work sustainable.

Open to Senior Solidity Opportunities

Seeking senior Solidity and backend engineering roles.

Send a Message
Tell me about your MEV/DeFi project or Solidity engineering role