Senior Staff Software Engineer - Blockchain Platform

About the Role

The Blockchain Platform team builds and operates the nodes, indexers, wallets, and orchestration systems that power every core crypto action across 60+ blockchain networks and 300+ tokens. As a senior staff software engineer, you will be responsible for driving engineering standards for correctness, security, reliability, testing, and observability across all crypto asset operations.

Coinbase is a remote-first company, with quarterly in-person working sessions called 'surges.' As a remote employee, you will be expected to collaborate effectively with your team, communicate proactively, and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.

What You Will Do

• Define and drive the multi-quarter technical strategy for Blockchain Platform, spanning nodes, wallets, indexing, and asset lifecycle, to support new chain integrations, new products, and significant growth in on-chain transaction volume.
• Architect and evolve core platform infrastructure, including nodes, indexers, wallet systems, and liquidity primitives, for high availability, low latency, cost efficiency, and security at global scale.
• Lead end-to-end design and rollout of large, cross-team architectural initiatives, breaking high ambiguity into clear milestones and measurable outcomes.
• Drive engineering standards for correctness, security, reliability, testing, and observability across all crypto asset operations, including transaction finality, key management, reconciliation, and failure-mode handling.
• Own data-driven reliability improvements by using observability signals to identify structural platform gaps and lead systematic remediation.
• Represent Blockchain Platform in executive and cross-org forums, communicating tradeoffs, aligning stakeholders on strategy, and securing buy-in for high-impact technical bets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive the technical vision and ensure seamless integration.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, ensuring that all engineers can understand and contribute to the platform's technical vision.

What We Are Looking For

• 12+ years of software engineering experience, including 4+ years operating at a staff-plus level designing and scaling high-throughput transaction systems requiring strong auditability, idempotency, and financial precision.
• Hands-on experience with one or more blockchain protocols at the node or protocol level, with demonstrated depth in staking infrastructure, bridging protocols, or tokenization systems.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale, multi-team architectural initiatives from design through production at a company operating critical infrastructure at global scale.
• Experience applying AI or agent-based automation to reduce operational toil in platform or infrastructure contexts, with measurable results in efficiency or reliability gains.
• Strong understanding of the crypto economy, including market trends, regulatory landscape, and consumer behavior.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote environment.
• Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to drive technical vision and ensure seamless integration across cross-functional teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud-based infrastructure, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Familiarity with containerization using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of smart contract development, including Solidity or Rust.
• Experience with agile development methodologies, including Scrum or Kanban.
• Certification in blockchain development or a related field.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible PTO policy, with a minimum of 4 weeks per year.
• Remote work stipend, including a home office setup and internet reimbursement.
• Professional development opportunities, including conference attendance and training programs.
• Access to a network of professional mentors and peers.
• Quarterly in-person working sessions, including travel and accommodation reimbursement.

• Develop a strong understanding of blockchain protocols, including Ethereum, Bitcoin, and other popular platforms.
• Build a personal project or contribute to an open-source project to demonstrate your skills and experience with blockchain development.
• Prepare to discuss your technical leadership experience, including examples of large-scale architectural initiatives you've led and the results you've achieved.
• Research Coinbase's products and services, including their wallet, exchange, and institutional platforms, to demonstrate your interest and knowledge of the company.
• Practice whiteboarding exercises to improve your problem-solving skills and ability to communicate technical concepts effectively.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI or agent-based automation, including examples of how you've applied these technologies to reduce operational toil and improve efficiency.
• Review the company's engineering blog and research papers to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and advancements in blockchain technology.