Senior Staff Software Engineer, Institutional Exchange

Coinbase

Senior Staff Engineer architecting Coinbase’s institutional crypto trading exchange. Leading low-latency trading systems, platform architecture, and technical direction across engineering teams.

Posted 9/4/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $262,650 - $309,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in low-latency distributed systems and backend development, with a strong focus on architectural ownership of trading platforms. Proven ability to lead cross-team initiatives and mentor engineers while maintaining hands-on contributions in high-stakes environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Low-Latency Distributed SystemsJava, C++, or Go ProficiencyArchitectural Ownership of Trading PlatformsIncident Command ExperienceTechnical Leadership and Mentorship

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software EngineeringPerformance TuningEvent-Sourced SystemsOrder Management SystemsMulti-Venue ConnectivityReal-Time Risk ManagementDeterministic TestingFailover DesignOperational StandardsCloud and Colocated Environments

Soft Skills

Cross-Team Technical AlignmentInfluencing Without AuthorityMentoring EngineersCommitment Securing

Industry Keywords

Exchange DomainTrading SystemsMarket Data SystemsCrypto MarketsInstitutional Markets

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

C++CloudDistributed SystemsGoJavaLinux

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the technical strategy and architecture for a core Exchange domain
Drive multi-quarter initiatives from ambiguity through incremental milestones to delivery
Lead the design of ultra-low-latency, event-sourced trading systems spanning matching, risk, and market data across cloud and colocated environments
Drive cross-team technical alignment across Exchange, Prime, and Derivatives
Secure commitment from senior engineering and product leadership
Set and inspect quality standards across teams, including deterministic testing, failover design, incident leadership, and operational standards for 24/7 markets
Maintain significant hands-on contribution while leading execution through senior engineers and tech leads
Mentor L5-L6 engineers and develop technical leadership

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant ownership of production trading, exchange, or market-data systems at scale
Deep expertise in low-latency distributed systems
Backend language proficiency in Java, C++, or Go
Fluency in JVM/Linux performance tuning
Demonstrated architectural ownership of an end-to-end trading platform, including order management, multi-venue connectivity, and real-time risk
Proven track record influencing technical direction across multiple teams without direct authority
Experience operating latency-sensitive systems in on-prem/colocated and cloud environments
Experience with incident command and safe production change
Genuine interest in crypto and institutional markets, with ability to ramp quickly
Responsible use of generative AI with human oversight
Must be located in the USA

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity eligibility
Bonus eligibility
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Quarterly in-person working sessions called “surges”