Lead Protocol Engineer – Go, Cryptography

Wells Fargo

Lead protocol engineer building Wells Fargo’s compliant, privacy-preserving digital-asset settlement engine. Developing Go, Cosmos SDK, cryptography, and MPC infrastructure for institutional finance.

Posted 8/20/2026full-timeConcord • California, Ohio • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $159,000 - $305,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in building custom blockchain applications using Go, Cosmos SDK, and CometBFT, with a strong focus on cryptographic operations and privacy-preserving technologies. Proficient in designing secure systems that comply with regulatory standards and optimize performance in distributed environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Expert-Level Proficiency In Go (Golang)Deep Experience With Cosmos SDK And CometBFTKnowledge Of Pedersen Commitments And Homomorphic EncryptionExperience With BFT Consensus Algorithms And P2P NetworkingAbility To Read Academic Whitepapers And Translate Specifications Into Code

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Blockchain Application DevelopmentBackend ProgrammingElliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)Multi-Party Computation (MPC)Zero-Knowledge ProofsCustom Module DevelopmentConsensus Logic ModificationCryptographic OptimizationDistributed Systems EngineeringRegulatory Compliance

Tools & Technologies

Cosmos SDKCometBFTABCI++ ExtensionsRistretto255 CurveGnark-crypto

Industry Keywords

FinTechPayment SystemsHigh-Frequency TradingPrivacy-Preserving LedgersRisk Management

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsGo

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Architect and build a custom blockchain application using Go, Cosmos SDK, and CometBFT (Tendermint)
Implement and optimize privacy-preserving primitives, specifically Pedersen Commitments and Bulletproofs (Range Proofs), without a trusted setup
Engineer custom ABCI++ extensions, specifically PrepareProposal and Vote Extensions, for an on-chain Multi-Party Computation (MPC) mixing network
Design a custom KVStore state machine managing homomorphic encrypted balances represented as Elliptic Curve points
Optimize cryptographic operations, including scalar multiplication and point addition, for low latency and high throughput
Build secure off-chain query layers and view-key mechanisms for granular, permissioned regulatory auditing
Contribute to architectural decisions involving curves, libraries, and design patterns
Support Wells Fargo’s compliance-driven risk culture and applicable risk, regulatory, and operational programs

Requirements

What you’ll need

5+ years of Specialty Software Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, or education
3+ years of experience with backend or systems programming
Expert-level proficiency in Go (Golang)
6+ months of experience with Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
1+ year of experience with BFT consensus algorithms, P2P networking, and state replication
Experience with reliable, distributed systems
Deep experience with Cosmos SDK and CometBFT
Experience building custom modules and modifying consensus logic
Knowledge of Pedersen Commitments and homomorphic encryption properties
Knowledge of Zero-Knowledge Proofs, specifically Bulletproofs or Sigma protocols
Ability to read academic whitepapers/preprints and translate mathematical specifications into functioning code
Experience with MPC (Multi-Party Computation) or Verifiable Secret Sharing (VSS) schemes
Familiarity with the Ristretto255 curve or libraries like gnark-crypto
Background in FinTech, payment systems, or high-frequency trading platforms
Understanding of Account Model vs. UTXO Model trade-offs in privacy-preserving ledgers
Ability to meet Wells Fargo recruitment and hiring requirements, including directly representing one's own experiences

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health benefits
401(k) Plan
Paid time off
Disability benefits
Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
Parental leave
Critical caregiving leave
Discounts and savings
Commuter benefits
Tuition reimbursement
Scholarships for dependent children
Adoption reimbursement