Lead Protocol Engineer (Go / Cryptography)
Wells FargoBase Salary
$159k - $305k/yr
Responsibilities
- Architect and build a custom blockchain application and settlement engine using Go, Cosmos SDK, and CometBFT.
- Implement and optimize privacy-preserving cryptographic primitives, including Pedersen Commitments and Bulletproofs.
- Customize ABCI++ extensions, including PrepareProposal and Vote Extensions, for an on-chain multi-party computation mixing network.
- Design a KVStore state machine managing homomorphically encrypted balances represented as elliptic-curve points.
- Optimize scalar multiplication and point addition for low latency and high throughput in distributed environments.
- Build secure off-chain query layers and view-key mechanisms for granular, permissioned regulatory auditing.
- Translate mathematical specifications, academic papers, and cryptographic proofs into production-grade code.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of specialty software engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, or education.
- At least 3 years of backend or systems programming experience with expert-level proficiency in Go.
- At least 6 months of elliptic-curve cryptography experience.
- At least 1 year of experience with BFT consensus algorithms, peer-to-peer networking, and state replication in reliable distributed systems.
- Desired experience with Cosmos SDK, CometBFT, custom blockchain modules, and consensus-logic modification.
- Knowledge of Pedersen Commitments, homomorphic encryption properties, zero-knowledge proofs, Bulletproofs, or Sigma protocols.
- Ability to read academic whitepapers or preprints and translate mathematical specifications into functioning code.
- Experience with multi-party computation or verifiable secret-sharing schemes.
- Familiarity with the Ristretto255 curve or libraries such as gnark-crypto.
- Background in fintech, payment systems, or high-frequency trading platforms and understanding of Account Model versus UTXO Model trade-offs.
Benefits
- Hybrid work schedule.
- Base pay range of $159,000.00 to $305,000.00, with potential incentive opportunities.
- Health benefits, 401(k) plan, paid time off, disability benefits, life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance.
- Parental leave, critical caregiving leave, commuter benefits, tuition reimbursement, dependent-child scholarships, adoption reimbursement, and discounts and savings.
- Relocation assistance is not available; listed locations are Columbus, Ohio and Concord, California.
- Posting end date is September 29, 2026.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through more than 7,300 locations, 12,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in over 40 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 250,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 41 on Fortune’s 2022 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. Relevant military experience is considered for veterans and transitioning service men and women. 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.© 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.