Senior Software Engineer, Certificate Management

Coinbase
United States
Remote

Who this role is best for

Geared toward experienced engineers comfortable with cryptographic infrastructure and cross-functional collaboration, with a strong emphasis on remote work and high-stakes system resilience.

Best fit for

  • Experienced engineers with deep cryptographic expertise and a track record in high-stakes infrastructure projects
    — “proven experience operating certificate authorities, automating X.509 certificate lifecycles”
  • Candidates who thrive in remote-first environments with periodic in-person surges
    — “remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called 'surges'”

Things to consider

  • Quarterly in-person surges may require travel despite the remote-first model
    — “Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called 'surges'”
  • Candidates must be prepared to operate in a zero-trust, high-security environment
    — “implementing secure and resilient cryptographic protocols in a high-stakes, zero-trust environment”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in designing secure, highly available systems with cryptographic components
    — “lead the architecture and execution of critical cryptographic infrastructure”
  • Emphasize leadership in translating regulatory requirements into engineering solutions
    — “navigating complex regulatory requirements and translating them into robust engineering solutions”
  • Demonstrate hands-on experience with HSMs or cloud KMS for private key protection
    — “safely protecting private key material with HSMs or cloud KMS”
  • Showcase experience with Golang in large-scale, distributed environments
    — “ability to operate in a Golang-heavy environment”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • lead the architecture and execution of critical cryptographic infrastructure
  • define technical strategies for novel cryptographic solutions
  • implement secure and resilient cryptographic protocols
  • shape engineering quality practices
  • build alignment and secure commitment from cross-functional partners
Typical background
5+ years of experience in software engineering with demonstrated success building highly available, distributed systems

Skills & requirements

Required

GoJavaC++RustPKIApplied CryptographyCertificate AuthoritiesX.509 Certificate LifecycleHsmsCloud KMSHigh-availability ServicesSecure And Resilient Cryptographic ProtocolsOperating Tier-0 Or Highly Critical InfrastructureLeading A Team's Technical Strategy

Preferred

Utilizes Generative AI ResponsiblyMaintaining Human Oversight

Stack & domain

GoJavaC++RustPublic Key Infrastructure (pki)Applied CryptographyCertificate AuthoritiesX.509 Certificate LifecyclesHsmsCloud KMSTier-0 InfrastructureZero-trust EnvironmentGenerative AILeadershipMentoringCode ReviewsCross-functional CollaborationCryptographic ProtocolsCertificate ManagementSecurity Platform Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Coinbase

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.

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.

Source: Coinbase careers

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