FCM Tech Lead

About the role

In this role, you will lead the design and architecture of the FCM core, focusing on critical aspects like market data, order routing, and settlement. Your work will directly contribute to the replatforming efforts aimed at improving system reliability and reducing dependencies on legacy vendors.

You will collaborate with various teams to ensure the delivery of auditable systems while mentoring engineers to elevate the overall quality of engineering practices. This position requires a hands-on approach in a fast-paced, remote-first environment that values high standards and continuous improvement.

The base salary for this role ranges from $218,025 to $256,500, depending on location.

Skills that matter here

• backend engineering: This role demands extensive backend engineering experience to manage complex distributed systems.
• distributed systems: You will be responsible for the architecture of distributed systems that support trading functionalities.
• Go: Proficiency in Go is preferred for developing and maintaining backend services.
• Java: Experience with Java or similar languages is required for backend development.
• event-driven architecture: You will work on systems that utilize event-driven architectures for high availability.
• high-availability architectures: The role involves ensuring the systems are designed for high availability and reliability.

Who this role suits

• You have a strong background in backend engineering and have worked with complex, production-grade systems.
• You thrive in a challenging environment where high standards are expected and complacency is not tolerated.
• You are a mentor at heart, eager to help others grow while also being hands-on with coding.
• You are comfortable working in a regulated financial environment and understand the importance of auditability and correctness.

From the employer

• Own design and architecture across the FCM core, from market data and order routing through settlement, reporting, and risk.
• Drive the next-gen replatforming effort, reducing legacy vendor dependencies while raising stability and reliability.
• Set the technical bar through code, design reviews, and standards, and pay down the technical debt that matters most.
• Partner across pods (execution, risk, lifecycle) and cross-functionally with Product, CFM Risk and Ops, Finance, and Compliance to deliver correct, auditable systems and turn strategy into a roadmap.
• Mentor engineers across the team and act as a force multiplier, scaling engineering quality and helping others grow.

• Extensive backend engineering experience, with demonstrated ownership of complex, production-grade distributed systems.
• Direct FCM or derivatives experience, with hands-on ownership of one or more parts of the futures trade lifecycle (settlement, clearing, margin/risk, order entry/routing, market data, or back-office books and records).
• Deep proficiency in a modern backend language (Go preferred; Java or similar) and event-driven, high-availability architectures; familiarity with Ion XTP is a plus.
• Experience in a regulated or financial environment (CFTC/NFA or comparable) where correctness, auditability, and reliability are critical.
• Track record delivering end-to-end, from scoping and architecture through implementation, monitoring, and iteration, including replatforming or migrating off legacy systems while still coding hands-on and raising the quality bar.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.

• 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): $218,025—$256,500 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.
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• 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.
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