Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Consumer - Risk)

About the Role

The ideal candidate for this role will have a deep understanding of backend systems design, including microservices, event-driven architectures, and REST/GraphQL APIs. You will also have experience architecting solutions for complex, high-stakes domains where correctness, latency, and reliability are critical. As a technical leader, you will be expected to raise the technical bar for the team through architectural guidance, engineering culture improvements, and mentorship of senior engineers.

What You Will Do

• Own the end-to-end technical architecture of Coinbase's Risk Platform, including real-time fraud detection engines, risk decisioning systems, financial risk monitoring, and mitigation infrastructure operating at high throughput with low latency and 24x7 availability
• Shape multi-quarter technical strategies for the Risk Platform, identifying opportunities to simplify complexity, improve reliability, reduce fraud losses, and scale risk capabilities across new products, asset classes, and jurisdictions
• Lead the design and implementation of critical risk systems, translating ambiguous, high-stakes business requirements into scalable, resilient architectures that balance fraud prevention with user experience
• Partner cross-functionally with Data Science, ML, Product, Compliance, and senior leadership to define the roadmap and ensure the risk platform evolves ahead of emerging threats and regulatory requirements
• Build AI-native risk systems that leverage fleets of agents to automate complex detection and response workflows, significantly reducing the need for manual intervention
• Strengthen the team's technical capability through architecture reviews, code reviews, engineering standards for quality and performance, and hands-on mentorship of engineers at all levels
• Collaborate with the engineering team to identify and prioritize technical debt, and develop strategies to address it
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, system design documents, and technical guides
• Participate in code reviews, ensuring that all code meets the team's quality and performance standards

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of backend software engineering experience with significant experience architecting and developing high-throughput, low-latency production systems at scale
• Deep expertise in backend systems design, including microservices, event-driven architectures, and REST/GraphQL APIs
• Proven ability to define and execute multi-quarter technical strategies, influence engineering direction across teams, and translate ambiguous problem spaces into clear, actionable technical plans
• Experience architecting solutions for complex, high-stakes domains where correctness, latency, and reliability are critical
• Demonstrated success raising the technical bar for a team through architectural guidance, engineering culture improvements, and mentorship of senior engineers
• Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and software design patterns
• Experience with cloud-based technologies, including AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies, including Scrum or Kanban

Nice to Have

• Experience with machine learning or artificial intelligence
• Familiarity with cryptocurrency or blockchain technology
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards in the financial industry
• Experience with containerization, including Docker or Kubernetes
• Familiarity with testing frameworks, including JUnit or PyUnit

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) matching program
• Flexible paid time off and holidays
• Remote work stipend and equipment allowance
• Professional development opportunities, including conferences and training programs
• Access to a diverse and talented team of engineers and professionals

• Develop a strong understanding of backend systems design and architecture, including microservices and event-driven architectures. Familiarize yourself with cloud-based technologies, including AWS, GCP, or Azure. Showcase your experience with agile development methodologies, including Scrum or Kanban. Be prepared to discuss your approach to technical debt and how you prioritize it. Highlight your ability to mentor and lead engineers, and provide examples of how you've raised the technical bar for a team. When discussing your experience with complex systems, focus on specific examples and metrics, such as latency and throughput. Be prepared to whiteboard your technical design and architecture decisions, and defend your approach. Research the company's technology stack and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to it.