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 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.

Locations

194 Wood Ave S, Iselin, New Jersey
3075 Loyalty Circle, Columbus, Ohio
1755 Grant Street, Concord, California

Pay Range

$159,000.00 - $305,000.00

Benefits

Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, including health benefits, 401(k) plan, paid time off, disability benefits, life insurance, parental leave, and more. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview.

Posting End Date

30 Jul 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.

Lead Protocol Engineer (Go / Cryptography)

Job summary

Work model