Staff Software Engineer (Tech Lead, Backend - Platform (Overseer)

About the Role

The Overseer team is part of the Platform product group, which means the work done here has far-reaching implications across the company. The gap between having individual services work correctly and ensuring the entire system is correct compounds with every new product shipped, every market entered, and every settlement mechanism built. The Staff Software Engineer will be at the forefront of ensuring Coinbase's systems maintain their integrity and security in the face of this growth.

What You Will Do

• Own the multi-quarter technical strategy, architecture, and roadmap for the Overseer platform, including the invariant definition framework, real-time detection engine, and partner-facing APIs.
• Lead the design and execution of company P0 initiatives end-to-end, serving as the senior DRI accountable for delivery, trade-offs, and organizational alignment across product groups.
• Drive an architecture where every new product shipped accelerates the correctness layer rather than adding complexity, setting precedents that influence platform design across FinHub.
• Shape engineering standards and technical culture across the team and broader FinHub organization through design reviews, architectural RFCs, and raising the bar on code quality and system reliability.
• Partner with senior engineering and product leadership across product groups to align correctness requirements, resolve cross-team technical dependencies, and define shared platform contracts.
• Build next-generation AI-powered guardrails and real-time invariant enforcement capabilities, identifying opportunities to apply AI-first approaches that scale correctness across Coinbase's expanding fund movement infrastructure.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the Overseer platform integrates seamlessly with existing systems and meets the evolving needs of the business.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation to ensure knowledge sharing and facilitate onboarding of new team members.
• Participate in design and code reviews to ensure high-quality solutions that meet the engineering standards of the company.

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of experience designing, building, and operating fault-tolerant, high-reliability distributed systems at scale, with a track record of influencing technical direction beyond your immediate team.
• Demonstrated experience as a technical lead owning architecture decisions, multi-quarter roadmaps, and cross-team initiatives that impacted organization-level outcomes.
• Platform-builder mindset - proven history of building infrastructure other teams depend on, defining platform contracts, and scaling systems that support multiple product areas simultaneously.
• Deep expertise in backend programming (e.g., Go, Python, Java) and designing systems for correctness, performance, and scalability in financial or high-stakes distributed environments.
• Track record of elevating team and org-level technical quality through mentorship, architectural standards, engineering process improvements, and senior hiring contributions.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.
• Strong understanding of financial systems and the importance of correctness and security in these environments.
• Experience with cloud-based technologies and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

Nice to Have

• Experience with AI and machine learning technologies, particularly in applying these to financial systems for predictive analytics and risk management.
• Knowledge of blockchain technology and its applications in financial systems.
• Certification in information security or a related field, demonstrating a deep understanding of security principles and practices.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Participation in open-source projects, showing a willingness to contribute to and learn from the broader developer community.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and contribute to the future of financial systems.
• Remote work options with quarterly in-person working sessions for intense collaboration and team building.
• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous PTO policy to ensure work-life balance.
• Access to professional development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and conference attendance.
• A culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all employees.

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience with distributed systems, AI, and financial technology, ensuring you stand out among applicants.
• Prepare to discuss your approach to building and scaling high-reliability systems, as well as your experience with backend programming languages.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the financial technology landscape and how your skills can contribute to the future of digital payments.
• Be ready to talk about your experience with AI and machine learning, particularly in how you've applied these technologies to improve system efficiency and security.
• Showcase your problem-solving skills through examples of complex technical problems you've solved in previous roles, highlighting your ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Come prepared with questions about the company culture, the Overseer team, and the role's responsibilities to show your interest in the position and the company.
• Highlight your ability to work remotely and your experience with collaboration tools, demonstrating your self-motivation and discipline in a remote work environment.