Backend Software Engineer (Java, Python)
About The Company Coinbase is a pioneering financial technology company dedicated to increasing economic freedom worldwide. Known for its uncompromising mission and high-performance culture, Coinbase operates at the forefront of the cryptocurrency industry, building innovative platforms that enable millions of customers to move and manage funds securely. As a remote-first company, Coinbase fosters a dynamic and intense work environment that challenges employees to exceed their limits. The company emphasizes collaboration through quarterly in-person working sessions called “surges,” ensuring teams remain connected and aligned on strategic goals. Coinbase is committed to building the future of finance with a team that refuses to settle for "good enough." About The Role We are seeking a highly experienced Staff Software Engineer to join the FinHub - Transfers team within our Platform group. This role is critical to the architectural direction and technical leadership of the systems that facilitate crypto and fiat fund movements across Coinbase’s diverse product offerings, including Retail, Prime, Exchange, International, and Payments. As a Staff Software Engineer, you will be responsible for driving the design and implementation of one of the industry's most critical and high-scale distributed financial platforms. You will lead complex, cross-functional initiatives that enhance platform reliability, scalability, and correctness, impacting millions of users worldwide. This role requires a strong background in backend programming, cloud-native architectures, and financial systems where transaction integrity and auditability are paramount. Qualifications 8+ years of experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems in production environments. Proven track record of owning architectural direction and making strategic technical decisions that influence long-term team or domain success. Deep expertise in backend programming languages such as Go, Ruby, Python, or Java. Strong experience with cloud-native architecture and designing highly available, high-throughput systems where correctness is critical. Demonstrated success delivering and scaling financial systems or fund movement platforms with a focus on transaction integrity, idempotency, and auditability. Experience leading cross-functional engineering initiatives and mentoring engineers across multiple levels. Ability to translate complex distributed systems problems into clear architectural decisions and actionable roadmaps. Responsible use of generative AI tools to enhance workflow efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and output quality while maintaining human oversight.
Responsibilities
Own the technical architecture of Transfers' fund movement systems, guiding design decisions related to distributed system structure, correctness guarantees, and scalability across crypto and fiat rails. Lead complex, cross-team engineering projects end-to-end, collaborating with Payments, Trading, and product teams to deliver new fund movement capabilities and platform improvements. Drive the evolution of backend infrastructure using modern cloud-native patterns, proactively identifying and resolving scaling bottlenecks before they impact customers. Establish and uphold engineering standards, code review practices, and architectural patterns to improve quality and reduce operational risks in high-correctness financial systems. Mentor engineers on system design, distributed systems best practices, and building production services that require financial integrity and reliability. Utilize generative AI responsibly to support engineering workflows and business outcomes.
Benefits
Competitive base salary ranging from $218,025 to $256,500 USD annually, varying by location. Equity and bonus eligibility as part of total compensation. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans. 401(k) retirement savings plan. Remote-first work environment with quarterly in-person collaboration sessions. Opportunities for professional growth and mentorship within a high-impact, mission-driven company. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities upon request. Equal Opportunity Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We strive to create an inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.