Principal Software Engineer, Backend - Platform

Details

At Coinbase you will work on the emerging onchain platform to help build the future global financial system. This role is a senior individual contributor position focused on backend platform work across domains such as identity, payments, ledgering and risk. The team expects strong technical leadership, mentorship of other engineers, and the ability to influence cross-functional strategy and architecture.

Responsibilities

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

Requirements

• Minimum of 15+ years of professional experience
• Proven experience providing technical and strategic oversight for large, high-performing engineering organizations
• Demonstrated ability to inspire, influence, and drive change across multiple cross-functional teams and senior leaders (VPs, C-suite)
• Significant experience designing, operating, and scaling large-scale systems with multi-year, multi-organization impact
• Experience with product platform services, API design and evolution, data stores and ledger systems, and payment frameworks
• Excellent collaboration and mentorship skills
• Experience in fintech; crypto/blockchain experience is a plus

Location & Work Policy

• Many Coinbase roles are remote-first but not remote-only; in-person participation is required throughout the year (team and company offsites multiple times annually). Attendance at these events is expected and supported.

Compensation

• Pay Range: $297,670 — $350,200 USD (target annual salary; full-time offers may also include target bonus, target equity, and benefits)
• JOB ID: GPBE08US

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with generous employee contributions
• Health Savings Account with company contributions each pay period
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Wellness stipend
• Mobile/Internet reimbursement
• Connections stipend
• Volunteer time off
• Fertility counseling and benefits
• Generous time off/leave policy
• Option to receive pay in digital currency

Other Notes

• Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For US applicants, certain notices and arbitration terms may apply. Some roles may pilot AI tools for initial screening interviews; human review will be used for decisions.