Senior Protocol Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About This Role:

Wells Fargo is seeking several Senior Specialty Software Developers (Protocol Engineers) 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.

Wells Fargo is moving beyond standard public blockchains to build a custom, application-specific infrastructure. Our platform utilizes advanced cryptography to enable "auditable privacy"-allowing regulated institutions to settle digital assets securely while preserving strategic confidentiality, without relying on centralized intermediaries.

As a Senior Protocol Engineer, you will be responsible for architecting the core settlement engine. You'll work at the intersection of distributed systems and applied cryptography, translating complex mathematical proofs into high-performance, production-grade Go code.

Why apply to this job?

• To work on complex problems:You won't be building another yield farm copycat. You'll be solving 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 usingGo,Cosmos SDK, andCometBFT (Tendermint)

• Cryptographic Implementation:Implement and optimize privacy-preserving primitives, specificallyPedersen CommitmentsandBulletproofs (Range Proofs), ensuring no trusted setup is required

• Consensus Customization:Engineer customABCI++extensions (specificallyPrepareProposaland Vote Extensions) to implement an on-chain Multi-Party Computation (MPC) mixing network.

• State Machine Design:Design a customKVStorestate 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:

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

• Systems Engineering:3+ years of experience in backend or systems programming, with expert-level proficiency inGo (Golang)

• Applied Cryptography:6+ months of experience with Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)

• Distributed Systems: 1+ year of experience with BFT consensus algorithms, P2P networking, and state replication

Desired Qualifications:

• Blockchain Core:Deep experience withCosmos SDKandCometBFT. 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 withMPC (Multi-Party Computation)or Verifiable Secret Sharing (VSS) schemes

• Familiarity with theRistretto255curve or libraries likegnark-crypto

• Background in FinTech, payment systems, or high-frequency trading platforms

• Understanding of theAccount Modelvs.UTXO Modeltrade-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

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.

Posting End Date:

*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, visitDisability 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.