Backend Software Engineer (Python, Java)

About The Company

Coinbase is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and financial technology platform dedicated to increasing economic freedom worldwide. Our mission is to create an open financial system that provides individuals with access to the broader economy through innovative blockchain and crypto solutions. Coinbase is committed to building a secure, reliable, and user-friendly platform that empowers millions of users to participate in the digital economy. With a focus on transparency, security, and compliance, Coinbase strives to set industry standards and foster trust among its global user base. As a pioneer in the crypto space, Coinbase continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in blockchain technology and digital assets, aiming to shape the future of finance.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary Technical Leader to oversee the architecture and development of Coinbase's Ledger system, a core component responsible for processing transactions and managing user funds. This role offers a unique opportunity to reimagine and enhance a mission-critical infrastructure that handles billions of transactions and secures assets for millions of users. As the owner of the Ledger platform’s technical direction, you will drive strategic initiatives, lead cross-functional projects, and establish best practices to ensure scalability, performance, and reliability. You will collaborate closely with product, finance, and engineering leadership to shape the technical roadmap and embed innovative solutions such as AI into operational workflows. Your leadership will be instrumental in building resilient, high-performance systems that support Coinbase’s growth and vision for the future of decentralized finance.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems in production environments
• Deep expertise in backend programming languages such as Go, Python, or Java
• Proven experience designing highly available, high-performance, and scalable systems
• Strong understanding of cloud-native architecture and infrastructure
• Experience leading cross-functional technical initiatives and mentoring engineering teams
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear and actionable solutions
• Experience anticipating scalability challenges and implementing proactive measures
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Familiarity with financial data, accounting systems, or high-precision transaction processing (preferred)
• Experience with ledgering or trading systems at scale (preferred)
• Knowledge of technologies such as Kubernetes, Postgres, and related tools (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop foundational backend systems with a focus on performance, scalability, and reliability
• Define and drive the strategic technical direction for the Ledger platform and related initiatives
• Establish and evolve best practices, architectural standards, and frameworks within the engineering team
• Provide technical mentorship to engineers, guiding design decisions and promoting engineering excellence
• Collaborate with product, finance, and leadership teams to develop and refine the technical roadmap
• Lead efforts to embed AI and automation into engineering and operational processes to enhance system efficiency
• Identify and resolve system bottlenecks, ensuring systems can scale seamlessly with business growth
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and technical decision-making processes
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies to continually improve platform capabilities

Benefits

• Competitive salary aligned with industry standards
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Retirement savings options including 401(k)
• Equity and bonus opportunities based on performance
• Flexible remote work arrangements with in-person team participation and offsites
• Professional development and continuous learning support
• Inclusive and collaborative work environment
• Access to cutting-edge blockchain and financial technology projects

Equal Opportunity

Coinbase is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants receive consideration regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Coinbase provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process. We value diversity and are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our mission of increasing economic freedom worldwide.