Senior Staff Software Engineer

About Us

At Coinbase, we are committed to our mission of enhancing economic freedom globally. This ambitious goal calls for extraordinary talent as we shape the future of the global financial system through our pioneering on-chain platform.

We are on the lookout for a passionate candidate who believes in the transformative power of crypto and blockchain. You should be someone eager to create a lasting impact, thrive under pressure, and continuously seek feedback for self-improvement. We value those who confront challenges head-on, driving solutions to the hardest problems we face.

Our culture is intense and not for everyone. However, if you're driven to collaborate with top-tier professionals and meet high expectations, this is the place for you.

Our Mission

At Coinbase, we strive to increase economic freedom, and staking is essential to this mission. It allows anyone to contribute to securing blockchain networks while earning rewards. With one of the largest Solana staking operations globally, we've committed to delivering industry-leading, risk-adjusted yields while ensuring top-notch security, compliance, and reliability.

The Role

We are searching for a Senior Staff Software Engineer to become Coinbase's Solana Staking Protocol CTO, the technical authority for all aspects of Solana staking. This role goes beyond traditional engineering; you will integrate in-depth Solana expertise with strategic leadership to influence the company’s staking path for years to come. You will be responsible for the overall technical direction in validator operations and protocol enhancements, collaborating with engineering leaders, product teams, and external partners including the Solana Foundation. Additionally, you will represent Coinbase as a recognized expert in Solana, sharing insights at conferences and engaging with the validator community.

What You'll Do

• Define Staking Strategy: Lead Coinbase's multi-year technical strategy for Solana staking, focusing on validator performance, protocol participation, and product integration that aligns engineering decisions with business outcomes.
• Maximize Validator Performance: Oversee engineering efforts to achieve top-tier APY through validator optimization, building tools for sustained performance advantages.
• Own Protocol Expertise: Act as the leading authority on the Solana runtime and its ecosystem, evaluating upgrades and proactive risk assessment.
• Drive Cross-Product Integration: Work with product teams to design scalable staking integrations across Coinbase offerings, ensuring distinctive Solana staking features.
• Build External Presence: Actively engage with the Solana ecosystem through partnerships, public speaking, and contributions to governance.
• Lead Technical Execution: Write production code and design infrastructure for validator operations while maintaining high technical standards.
• Expand Responsibilities: Provide technical advice on other Solana initiatives where your protocol expertise is essential.
• Mentor and Scale the Team: Guide a team of engineers, enhancing their Solana knowledge and setting high engineering standards.

What We Look For

• Deep Solana Expertise: Extensive experience with Solana's architecture and its intricacies.
• Technical Authority: Proven capability in designing and building complex distributed systems, reportedly in languages like Rust or Go.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to translate technical strategies into tangible business objectives, with a focus on competitive advantages.
• Ecosystem Presence: Established relationships within the Solana community with a history of community engagement.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Proficient in working with diverse teams and simplifying complex technical concepts for broad audiences.
• Passion for Solana: A dedicated interest in Solana's developments and future.
• Ability to utilize generative AI tools for workflow improvements.

Nice to Have

• Experience as a core contributor to Solana-related projects.
• Background in regulated and security-focused environments.
• Experience in financial services or fintech.
• Published technical content about Solana or blockchain.
• Familiarity with evolving staking landscapes like liquid staking and restaking protocols.
• Understanding of other PoS protocols for comparative insights.

Compensation Transparency

Depending on your work location, the target annual base salary for this position ranges from $253,895 to $298,700 USD. Additional compensation may include equity and bonus eligibility, as well as standard benefits.

Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and consider applicants without regard to race, gender, disability, or any other protected status by law. We are also committed to reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities in the application process.