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Lead Protocol Engineer (Go / Cryptography)

Wells Fargo · Concord, CA · 2 wk ago
Engineering$159k–$305k/yrFull-time

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.

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

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

  • 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

Posting End Date

30 Jul 2026

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