Principal Software Engineer, Backend - Platform

Details

At Coinbase, the Principal Engineer will be a senior individual contributor who influences architecture and execution across multiple domains of the platform. The role focuses on backend and platform-level systems (identity, payments, ledgering, risk), scaling data stores and ledger systems, defining API surface and platform services, and mentoring other engineers. The team expects high ownership, strong cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to drive technical strategy across large organizations.

Responsibilities

• Influence and oversee engineering efforts across domains such as identity, payments, ledgering, and risk.
• Collaborate with product leaders to establish and execute vision and architecture strategies.
• Drive a unified vision for product platform services and API surface.
• Lead development and scaling of data stores and ledger systems within payment frameworks.
• Implement and evangelize best practices for building and maintaining large-scale systems.
• Mentor and promote technical excellence and professional growth among individual contributors.

Requirements

• Minimum of 15+ years of experience.
• Experience providing technical and strategic oversight for large, high-performing global engineering teams (hundreds of engineers).
• Demonstrated ability to inspire, influence, and drive change across multiple cross-functional teams, VPs and C-suite.
• Proven experience working with large-scale systems and solving technical problems with multi-year, multi-billion dollar, multi-organization impact.
• Excellent collaboration skills and experience mentoring other engineers.
• Experience in the fintech sector; crypto experience is a plus.

Compensation

• Pay Range (target annual salary): $308,000 — $308,000 CAD. Full-time offers may also include target bonus, target equity, and benefits (medical, dental, vision).

Benefits

• Extended health care (coordinates with provincial coverage)
• Dental care
• Vision care
• Virtual health care (Consult+)
• Life & accident insurance
• Disability coverage
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Wellness stipend
• Mobile/internet reimbursement
• Connections stipend
• Learning and development allowance
• Employee assistance program
• Global travel medical policy
• Fertility benefits
• Generous time off / leave policy

Additional Information

• Coinbase is remote-first but not remote-only; in-person participation (team/company offsites) is required throughout the year. Job ID: GPBE08US.