Software Engineer - Cryptocurrency

About Alpaca

Alpaca is a global leader originating in the US, providing broker infrastructure focused on stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, fixed income, and 24/5 trading. Partnering with numerous financial institutions worldwide, Alpaca offers institutional-grade APIs supporting broker-dealers, investment advisors, wealth managers, hedge funds, and crypto exchanges with over 10 million brokerage accounts. The diverse team comprises seasoned engineers, traders, and brokerage experts united to democratize financial services globally, emphasizing open-source initiatives and elevating their developer-friendly API and infrastructure.

Backed by $400 million from prestigious investors including Portage Ventures, Spark Capital, Tribe Capital, and Y Combinator, the company boasts a flexible, globally dispersed workforce exceeding 400 members across multiple continents.

Role Overview

As a Software Engineer specializing in crypto at Alpaca, you will architect, develop, and sustain the core systems underpinning Alpaca Crypto, servicing millions of users trading assets worth billions. This role demands an engineer committed to delivering flawless solutions, experienced in scalable system design, and comfortable challenging norms. Autonomy in designing and implementing solutions while collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to define goals is key.

Primary Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and maintain the crypto exchange and market-making platforms.
• Create backend services involving crypto wallets, funding mechanisms, and tokenization.
• Build and support backend applications and web services.
• Ensure software quality by maintaining test coverage and conducting code reviews.
• Diagnose and resolve bugs and system incidents promptly.
• Participate in on-call rotations for critical engineering projects when required.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Familiarity with trading infrastructures, including exchange or market-making systems, matching engines, or other high-performance, regulated, fault-tolerant financial platforms.
• Proven experience developing crypto technologies.
• BSc or MSc in Computer Science or related fields, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 4 years of backend software development experience.
• Proficient in modern programming languages such as GoLang or C/C++ (with GoLang as the primary tech stack).
• Experience utilizing message queues and brokers for asynchronous communication.
• Strong skills with SQL and relational databases.
• Practical knowledge of Bash scripting, Linux environments, and Docker; Kubernetes expertise is advantageous.
• Passion for Alpaca's mission and products.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Kubernetes experience, with certifications like CKA or CKAD considered a plus.
• DevOps culture understanding.
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines.
• Good investment and financial market comprehension.
• Familiarity with major cloud services like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Knowledge of Agile and Scrum methodologies.
• Experience in microservices architecture.
• Strong grasp of clean code practices.

Benefits and Compensation

• Competitive salary accompanied by stock options.
• Comprehensive health benefits.
• One-time home-office setup fund of USD 500 for new hires.
• Monthly USD 150 stipend provided via Brex Card.

Equal Opportunity

Alpaca is committed to being an equal opportunity employer fostering a diverse workforce.