Lead Protocol Engineer (Go / Cryptography)

As a Lead Protocol Engineer at Wells Fargo, you will architect the core settlement engine of a next-generation Digital Asset Platform designed to achieve strict regulatory compliance without compromising transaction confidentiality. You will work at the intersection of distributed systems and applied cryptography, translating complex mathematical proofs into high-performance, production-grade Go code.

What you'll do

• Architect and build a custom blockchain application using Go, Cosmos SDK, and CometBFT (Tendermint)
• Implement and optimize privacy-preserving primitives, specifically Pedersen Commitments and Bulletproofs (Range Proofs), ensuring no trusted setup is required
• Engineer custom ABCI++ extensions, specifically PrepareProposal and Vote Extensions, to implement an on-chain Multi-Party Computation (MPC) mixing network
• Design a custom KVStore state machine that manages homomorphic encrypted balances (Elliptic Curve points) instead of plaintext integers
• Optimize cryptographic operations such as scalar multiplication and point addition for low latency and high throughput in a distributed environment
• Build secure off-chain query layers and "view key" mechanisms that allow for granular, permissioned regulatory auditing

What you bring

• 5+ years of specialty software engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, or education
• 3+ years of backend or systems programming experience 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 in reliable, distributed systems

Nice to have

• Deep experience with Cosmos SDK and CometBFT, including comfort building custom modules and modifying consensus logic
• Experience with Pedersen Commitments and their homomorphic encryption properties
• Knowledge of Zero-Knowledge Proofs, specifically Bulletproofs or Sigma protocols
• Demonstrated ability to read academic whitepapers and preprints and translate mathematical specifications into functioning code
• Experience with Multi-Party Computation (MPC) 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 versus UTXO Model trade-offs in privacy-preserving ledgers

What we offer

• Base salary of $159,000 - $305,000 (pay varies based on demonstrated performance, skills, experience, and work location; employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities)
• Health benefits
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid time off
• Disability and life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Parental leave and critical caregiving leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Adoption reimbursement
• Commuter benefits and discounts and savings programs
• Scholarships for dependent children
• Hybrid work schedule
• Work locations: 3075 Loyalty Circle, Columbus, Ohio; 1755 Grant Street, Concord, California; 194 S. Wood Ave., Iselin, New Jersey; or 150 E 42nd St., New York, New York

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is building a next-generation Digital Asset Platform that solves critical challenges in institutional finance by balancing strict regulatory compliance with transaction confidentiality.