Lead Protocol Engineer

About this Role:

Wells Fargo is seeking a Lead Specialty Software Engineer (Protocol Engineer) to contribute to a next-generation Digital Asset Platform designed to solve the most critical challenge in institutional finance: achieving strict regulatory compliance without compromising transaction confidentiality. As a Lead Protocol Engineer, you will be responsible for architecting the core settlement engine. You will work at the intersection of distributed systems and applied cryptography, translating complex mathematical proofs into high-performance, production-grade Go code.

Why Join Us?

• Work on "Hard" Problems: You won't be building another yield farm copycat. You'll solve fundamental privacy/compliance contradictions in the global financial system

• High-Impact Engineering: Your code will secure high-value institutional transactions

• Technical Autonomy: You'll play a key role in architectural decisions, choosing the right curves, libraries, and design patterns

Responsibilities

• Core Protocol Development: Architect and build a custom blockchain application using Go, Cosmos SDK, and CometBFT (Tendermint)

• Cryptographic Implementation: Implement and optimize privacy-preserving primitives, specifically Pedersen Commitments and Bulletproofs (Range Proofs), ensuring no trusted setup is required

• Consensus Customization: Engineer custom ABCI++ extensions (specifically PrepareProposal and Vote Extensions) to implement an on-chain Multi-Party Computation (MPC) mixing network

• State Machine Design: Design a custom KVStore state machine that manages homomorphic encrypted balances (Elliptic Curve points) instead of plaintext integers

• Performance Engineering: Optimize cryptographic operations (scalar multiplication, point addition) for low latency and high throughput in a distributed environment

• Auditing Infrastructure: Build secure off-chain query layers and "view key" mechanisms that allow for granular, permissioned regulatory auditing

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of Specialty Software Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

• 3+ years of experience in backend or systems programming, with 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; reliable, distributed systems experience

Desired Qualifications:

• Blockchain Core: Deep experience with Cosmos SDK and CometBFT. Comfort building custom modules and modifying consensus logic, not just deploying smart contracts

• Pedersen Commitments (Homomorphic encryption properties)

• Zero-Knowledge Proofs (specifically Bulletproofs or Sigma protocols)

• Math-to-Code: Demonstrated 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 the Account Model vs. UTXO Model trade-offs in privacy-preserving ledgers

Job Expectations:

• This position offers a hybrid work schedule

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position

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Locations:

• 3075 Loyalty Circle, Columbus, Ohio

• 1755 Grant Street, Concord, California

Pay Range
 

Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

$159,000.00 - $305,000.00

Posting End Date:

29 Sep 2026

*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

We Value Equal Opportunity

Wells Fargo 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, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.

Applicants with Disabilities

To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace.  Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.

Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:

a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.

b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.