Senior Software Engineer, Secrets Management

Coinbase, Inc.; Dover (DE); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 219,000; Full time

Job summary

Coinbase, Inc. is seeking a senior cryptography engineer to lead the architecture and delivery of critical cryptographic infrastructure. You will shape long-term technical strategy, own high-stakes projects, and work with cross-functional teams across Security, Product, and Policy to ensure secure, scalable solutions.

The role emphasizes zero-trust security, low latency requirements, and mentorship of senior engineers in a remote-first, hybrid setting with quarterly in-person surges.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience building distributed systems.
• Deep domain expertise in applied cryptography, KMS/HSM, with proven crypto protocol experience (MPC a plus).
• Extensive programming experience in systems languages (Golang/Java/C++/Rust).
• Experience operating Tier-0 or highly critical infrastructure with emphasis on security, resilience, and low latency.
• Experience leading a team's technical strategy, architecture, and delivery for large projects with regulatory considerations.
• Experience using generative AI responsibly with human oversight to improve workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and execution of cryptographic infrastructure for global regulatory compliance.
• Define long-term technical strategies amid ambiguous requirements for cryptographic solutions.
• Own ambitious initiatives, implementing secure protocols in a zero-trust environment.
• Shape engineering quality practices and drive rigorous code reviews.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to secure flawless execution.

Skills

Distributed systems

Cryptography

KMS/HSM

Golang

Java

C++

Rust

Leadership

AI for workflows

Tools

Golang

Java

C++

Rust

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.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the architecture and execution of critical cryptographic infrastructure, including services required for global regulatory compliance
• 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 applied cryptography, Key Management Systems (KMS), or Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), with proven experience safely implementing cryptographic protocols (Multi-Party Computation experience strongly preferred)
• 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.

*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.
• *US Applicants: *View Employee Rights, Know Your Rights, and E-Verify Notice of Participation.
• *Accommodations: *If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation, email us your request and contact info at accommodations[at]coinbase.com.Need screen reading technology? Click here to download a free compatible screen reader and view the tutorial.
• *Data Privacy & Arbitration: *By submitting your application, you agree to our Candidate Privacy Notice. US applicants: By submitting your application, you agree to Arbitration of Disputes.