Senior Software Engineer, Certificate Management

Coinbase, Inc.; Northern (KY); Remote; USD 186,000 - 219,000; Full time

Job summary

Coinbase is seeking a Senior Software Engineer in the Security Platform Engineering group to lead cryptographic infrastructure for critical initiatives. You will own high-availability services and drive secure, scalable certificate management across internal and external partners.

With 5+ years in software engineering and deep PKI expertise, you will shape technical strategy, mentor senior engineers, and ensure robust architectures in a zero-trust environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience building highly available, distributed systems.
• Deep PKI and cryptography expertise with certificate authorities, X.509 lifecycles, and key material protection with HSMs or cloud KMS.
• Experience in Golang, Java, C++, or Rust, in a Golang-heavy environment.
• Proven track record leading technical strategy and architecture for large-scale projects in regulated contexts.
• Experience using AI responsibly with human oversight to improve workflows and costs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and execution of cryptographic infrastructure.
• Define technical strategies with multi-quarter horizons for novel cryptographic solutions.
• Own ambitious initiatives in a zero-trust environment with secure protocols.
• Mentor engineers, drive code reviews, and eliminate single points of failure.
• Coordinate with Security, Product, and Policy to ensure flawless execution.

Skills

PKI/cryptography

Go

Java

C++

Rust

Distributed systems

Zero-trust security

Code reviews

AI governance

Job description

Ready to do the most impactful work of your career? At Coinbase, we are uncompromising on our mission to increase economic freedom. The bar is high, the environment is intense, and we like it that way. This isn't a place for complacency, it’s a place to be pushed past your perceived limits. If you're ready to build the future of finance alongside people who refuse to settle for "good enough," you belong here. Coinbase is a remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called “surges.” learn more about working at Coinbase.

As a Senior Software Engineer within the Security Platform Engineering group, you'll serve as the primary execution anchor for our most critical regulatory and cryptographic initiatives. This team owns Coinbase's Public and Internal Certificate Management based systems, which is the bedrock for all Coinbase systems. You'll lead the development of high-availability services which provide novel certificate needs internally and with external partners.

What you'll do:

• Lead the architecture and execution of critical cryptographic infrastructure
• Define technical strategies with a multi-quarter horizon, bringing clarity to highly ambiguous requirements for novel cryptographic solutions
• Own risky and ambitious initiatives, implementing secure and resilient cryptographic protocols in a high-stakes, zero-trust environment
• Shape engineering quality practices as a technical anchor and mentor within a team of senior engineers, driving rigorous code reviews and eliminating single points of failure
• Build alignment and secure commitment from cross-functional partners across Security, Product, and Policy to drive flawless execution

Required Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering with demonstrated success building highly available, distributed systems
• Deep domain expertise in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and applied cryptography, with proven experience operating certificate authorities, automating X.509 certificate lifecycles (issuance, renewal, revocation, and trust-chain distribution), and safely protecting private key material with HSMs or cloud KMS
• Extensive programming experience in systems languages such as Golang, Java, C++, or Rust, with ability to operate in a Golang-heavy environment
• Proven track record operating Tier-0 or highly critical infrastructure where system resilience, security, and low latency are absolute prerequisites
• Demonstrated experience leading a team's technical strategy, architecture, and deliverables for large-scale projects, including navigating complex regulatory requirements and translating them into robust engineering solutions
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.

#LI-Remote

Pay Transparency Notice:

Base salary varies by location (see range below). Total compensation may also include equity and bonus eligibility, and benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)).

Annual base salary range (excluding equity and bonus): $186,065 — $218,900 USD.

• Application Limit: Candidates may submit a maximum of 3 applications within a 6-month period.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants with criminal histories will be considered consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
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