FCM Tech Lead: Architect the Next-Gen Derivatives Platform

Coinbase; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 218,000 - 257,000; Full time

Job summary

Coinbase is building the future of regulated derivatives as part of the Institutional Everything Exchange. As an FCM Tech Lead, you’ll be a hands-on anchor across market data, order entry and routing, settlement, and back-office risk, leading a major replatforming effort.

You will mentor engineers, set technical standards, and collaborate with Product, Risk, Ops, Finance, and Compliance to deliver auditable systems at scale.

Qualifications

• Extensive backend engineering experience with distributed systems.
• Direct FCM or derivatives experience across the futures lifecycle (settlement, clearing, margin/risk, order entry/routing).
• Proficiency in a modern backend language (Go preferred) and event-driven architectures.
• Experience in regulated financial environments requiring auditability and reliability.
• Track record delivering end-to-end through replatforming or migration of legacy systems.
• Uses generative AI responsibly with human oversight.

Responsibilities

• Own design and architecture across the FCM core, from market data and order routing through settlement, reporting, and risk.
• Drive the next-gen replatforming effort, reducing legacy vendor dependencies while raising stability and reliability.
• Set the technical bar through code, design reviews, and standards, and pay down the technical debt that matters most.
• Partner across pods (execution, risk, lifecycle) and cross-functionally with Product, CFM Risk and Ops, Finance, and Compliance to deliver correct, auditable systems and turn strategy into a roadmap.
• Mentor engineers across the team and act as a force multiplier, scaling engineering quality and helping others grow.

Skills

Backend engineering

Derivatives market experience

Go

Event-driven architecture

Auditable systems

AI responsibly

Tools

Ion XTP

Job description

Coinbase is building the future of regulated derivatives as part of the Institutional Everything Exchange. As an FCM Tech Lead, you’ll be a hands-on anchor across market data, order entry and routing, settlement, and back-office risk, leading a major replatforming effort.

You will mentor engineers, set technical standards, and collaborate with Product, Risk, Ops, Finance, and Compliance to deliver auditable systems at scale.