Who We Are
At OKX, we believe that the future will be reshaped by crypto, and ultimately contribute to every individual's freedom.
OKX is a leading crypto exchange, and the developer of OKX Wallet, giving millions access to crypto trading and decentralized crypto applications (dApps). OKX is also a trusted brand by hundreds of large institutions seeking access to crypto markets. We are safe and reliable, backed by our Proof of Reserves.
Across our multiple offices globally, we are united by our core principles: We Before Me, Do the Right Thing, and Get Things Done. These shared values drive our culture, shape our processes, and foster a friendly, rewarding, and diverse environment for every OK-er.
About The Opportunity
As a Principal Engineer (equivalent to a Director level at OKX), you will be a key technical leader within our engineering team, driving the development and evolution of our consumer crypto trading, Stable coin as a service and our fiat deposit/withdrawal services. You will take ownership of critical architectural decisions, influence team strategy, and lead large-scale projects that shape the future of our platform. Your work will focus on solving complex, ambiguous problems with a long-term vision, ensuring our systems remain scalable, maintainable, and efficient.
What You’ll Be Doing
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Technical Leadership: Serve as a key technical influencer, driving architecture, design, and best practices across the engineering organization.
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System Design & Architecture: Take ownership of system-wide architecture, proactively addressing technical debt and improving system efficiency.
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Large-Scale Project Leadership: Lead and execute complex projects, breaking down initiatives into parallel work streams for the team.
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Scalability & Performance: Identify and resolve scaling bottlenecks, optimizing systems for high availability and performance.
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Technical Trade-offs: Make informed decisions balancing short-term business objectives with long-term system integrity.
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Operational Excellence: Drive security, quality, and observability best practices to ensure robust and maintainable systems.
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Hands-on Coding & Code Quality: Write high-quality, maintainable, and extensible code that serves as a reference for other engineers. Conduct thorough code reviews to ensure adherence to best practices and mentor team members on improving code quality.
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Mentorship & Talent Development: Actively mentor engineers, contribute to technical hiring, and provide assessments for internal promotions.
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Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, security, compliance, and operations teams to align technical solutions with business needs.
What We Look For In You
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8+ years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or staff engineering role.
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Strongly knowledgeable and informed about the crypto industry, with a strong sense of mission.
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Strong expertise in backend development with proficiency in one or more languages, preferably Java
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Deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and API design.
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Experience with high-availability and high-throughput systems in a fintech or crypto-related domain.
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Proven track record in leading large-scale projects, setting technical direction, and mentoring engineers.
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Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, caching mechanisms, and messaging queues.
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Familiarity with blockchain technologies, payment gateways, or fiat on/off-ramp solutions is a plus.
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Excellent problem-solving skills, with a pragmatic approach to decision-making.
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Strong hands-on coding skills with the ability to set high standards for code quality and software development best practices.
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Ability to review and improve code written by other engineers, ensuring maintainability, security, and scalability.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience in a crypto exchange, fintech, or high-frequency trading platform.
- Understanding of security best practices in financial applications.
- Knowledge of cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure), Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive total compensation package.
- L&D programs and Education subsidy for employees' growth and development.
- Various team building programs and company events.
OKX Statement
The base salary range for this position is $238,518 to $328,708. The salary offered depends on a variety of factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location. In addition to the salary, a performance bonus and long-term incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, as well as a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Applicants should apply via OKX internal or external careers site.
OKX is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful alien status, national origin, age, marital status, and non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Top Skills
What We Do
Founded in 2017, OKX is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency spot and derivatives exchanges. OKX innovatively adopted blockchain technology to reshape the financial ecosystem by offering some of the most diverse and sophisticated products, solutions, and trading tools on the market. Trusted by more than 20 million users in over 180 regions globally, OKX strives to provide an engaging platform that empowers every individual to explore the world of crypto.
In addition to its world-class DeFi exchange, OKX serves its users with OKX Insights, a research arm that is at the cutting edge of the latest trends in the cryptocurrency industry. With its extensive range of crypto products and services, and unwavering commitment to innovation, OKX’s vision is a world of financial access backed by blockchain and the power of decentralized finance.
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