Senior Software Engineer, Infra - Compute Platform
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled software engineers in the remote job market continues to surge, with a 25% increase in listings over the past year. As companies like Coinbase expand their operations, the need for experts in compute platform infrastructure and Kubernetes has become a top priority. With the rise of cloud-based technologies, professionals with experience in AI-driven processes and security protocols are in high demand. Coinbase stands out for its commitment to innovation and economic freedom, making this role an exciting opportunity for those looking to make a real impact. Before applying, candidates should be prepared to showcase their technical expertise and passion for building scalable, reliable systems.
Job Description
About the Role
The Senior Software Engineer position at Coinbase is a chance to work on the company's compute platform infrastructure, focusing on building and maintaining the primary compute orchestration system that supports every service at Coinbase. This role is part of the Platform group and involves designing, implementing, and operating distributed infrastructure systems. As a senior engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the scalability, reliability, and efficiency of the compute platform, which is built largely on CNCF technologies including Kubernetes and Istio.The compute platform team at Coinbase plays a critical role in supporting the company's mission to increase economic freedom. By building and maintaining a robust, scalable infrastructure, the team enables hundreds of engineers to deploy and operate critical services with ease. As a senior software engineer, you will be expected to own the design, build, and operation of Kubernetes cluster management tooling and automation, ensuring that the compute platform remains reliable and self-healing at scale.
What You Will Do
- Own the design, build, and operation of Kubernetes cluster management tooling and automation to keep the compute platform reliable and self-healing at scale.
- Build developer-facing tooling and workflows that improve how engineers across Coinbase interact with Kubernetes, with a focus on integrating AI-driven processes and support.
- Deliver net-new compute capabilities for service owners, such as one-off jobs, cron scheduling, deployment strategies, EFS support, and automated right-sizing.
- Drive operational excellence by automating toil, reducing on-call burden, and continuously improving platform observability and incident response.
- Partner with Security, Reliability, and Observability teams to ensure the compute platform meets Coinbase's standards for security, uptime, and performance.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize projects that align with company goals and objectives.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation to support the compute platform and its users.
- Participate in on-call rotations to ensure the compute platform remains operational and responsive to user needs.
What We Are Looking For
- 5+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years building and operating Kubernetes or similar compute orchestration systems.
- Hands-on experience with AWS and/or GCP infrastructure services in a production environment at scale.
- Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and operate distributed infrastructure systems, including diagnosing complex failures and driving them to root-cause resolution.
- Hands-on experience with the CNCF ecosystem and a track record of applying these tools to solve real infrastructure problems.
- Proven ability to apply AI tooling to infrastructure workflows, improving automation, developer productivity, or operational efficiency.
- Strong understanding of security principles and practices, with experience in implementing secure infrastructure designs.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
Nice to Have
- Experience with containerization using Docker and container orchestration using Kubernetes.
- Familiarity with infrastructure as code tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
- Knowledge of programming languages such as Go, Python, or Java.
- Experience with Agile development methodologies and version control systems like Git.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and bonus structure.
- Equity in Coinbase, with the opportunity to own a part of the company.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching.
- Flexible PTO and remote work options.
- Access to professional development opportunities and training programs.
- Coinbase's unique culture and values, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and economic freedom.
How to Stand Out
- Ensure you have a strong understanding of Kubernetes and compute platform infrastructure, as well as experience with AI-driven processes and security protocols.
- Showcase your ability to design, implement, and operate distributed infrastructure systems, and highlight your experience with the CNCF ecosystem.
- Be prepared to discuss your approach to operational excellence, including automating toil and improving platform observability and incident response.
- Emphasize your excellent communication and collaboration skills, with examples of working effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Consider creating a personal project or contributing to open-source projects to demonstrate your skills and passion for building scalable, reliable systems.
- Research Coinbase's culture and values, and be prepared to explain why you are a good fit for the company's mission and vision.
- Prepare to discuss your experience with security principles and practices, and how you have implemented secure infrastructure designs in the past.
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