Senior Risk Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world's leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through digital assets, payment applications, and programmable blockchain infrastructure. Circle's platform includes the world's largest regulated stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation. Learn more at circle.com.

What you'll be part of:

Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we're expanding into some of the world's strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.

What you'll be responsible for:

As a Senior Manager within Circle's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), you will safeguard Circle's integrity by leading financial crime investigations and intelligence efforts focused on the United States, with global scope across Circle's products, customers, and blockchain activity. You will identify, analyze, and report suspicious activity while ensuring compliance with US BSA/AML, sanctions, and other applicable financial crime regulatory requirements. This role requires close collaboration with global FIU's and compliance teams, product stakeholders, US regulators, and law enforcement, and will coordinate on cross-border matters that affect Circle's global risk posture. You will enhance detection capabilities, respond to evolving typologies, and ensure that Circle meets the highest standards of integrity and compliance excellence across US and global operations.

What you'll work on:

• Design and implement US-focused financial crime compliance frameworks and investigative standards, aligning BSA/AML, OFAC sanctions, FinCEN reporting expectations, and other applicable US regulatory requirements with Circle's global standards.

• Lead comprehensive financial crime risk assessments to identify US market vulnerabilities and global exposure, ensuring Circle's risk appetite and controls are calibrated to domestic regulatory expectations and cross-border activity.

• Act cross-functionally within Financial Crime Compliance, providing expert support across broader compliance domains including Sanctions, KYC, and Transaction Monitoring.

• Oversee and perform complex investigations into potential financial crimes and suspicious activity, leveraging deep US market knowledge to interpret domestic and cross-border transaction patterns and behaviors.

• Review and analyze sophisticated transaction data using blockchain analytics tooling, identifying illicit activity typologies relevant to US and global virtual asset markets.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for US regulators, law enforcement, and industry bodies, while coordinating with global counterparts on cross-border matters.

• Strengthen the Second Line of Defense (2LoD) by developing oversight processes, escalation protocols, and high-impact training programs for US-based and global analysts.

• Collaborate with global product and engineering teams to enhance automated monitoring tools and rulesets based on US risk signals, global typologies, and cross-border exposure.

What you'll bring to Circle:

Core Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience conducting complex financial crime investigations, ideally 2+ years within fintech or native virtual asset environments.

• Proven experience navigating the US financial crime regulatory environment and a nuanced understanding of the US financial ecosystem, including fintech, payments, and virtual assets.

• A background that spans beyond investigations into broader compliance areas including Transaction Monitoring, KYC framework design, and regulatory advisory.

• Proficiency in blockchain forensic tools, including TRM Labs and Elliptic and the ability to translate complex data into actionable compliance strategies.

• The ability to engage credibly with internal stakeholders, regulators, law enforcement, and industry partners as a subject matter expert on US financial crime risks with global implications.

• Strong knowledge of US BSA/AML and sanctions requirements, including SAR reporting, OFAC expectations, FinCEN guidance, and regulatory expectations for fintech and virtual asset activity.

• Strong knowledge of US and global virtual asset typologies and illicit-finance risks, including cross-border stablecoin and blockchain activity.

• Hands-on experience using blockchain analytics and transaction monitoring systems to identify suspicious activity.

• Demonstrated ability to write and review high-quality investigative reports and regulatory filings, including SARs.

• Excellent analytical and communication skills with the ability to distill complex data into clear, actionable insights.

Preferred Requirements:

• CAMS, ICA, or equivalent financial crime certification.

• TRM Advanced Crypto Investigations ("TRM-ACI"), Elliptic Specialist Investigator Certification, or equivalent blockchain analytics certifications.

• Experience liaising with US regulators and law enforcement agencies on BSA/AML, sanctions, and financial crime matters.

• Subject matter expertise with virtual asset service providers and evolving global typologies within the crypto ecosystem.

Circle is on a mission to create an inclusive financial future, with transparency at our core. We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.

Starting pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to: relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation ranges may differ for candidates in other locations.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other protected status required by the laws in the locations where we hire. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.

Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out toaccommodations@circle.comfor support. We respect your privacy and will connect with you separately from our interview process to accommodate your needs.

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