Offensive Security Engineer, Assessments (Web3)

Ready to be pushed beyond what you think you’re capable of?

At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom in the world. It’s a massive, ambitious opportunity that demands the best of us, every day, as we build the emerging onchain platform — and with it, the future global financial system.

To achieve our mission, we’re seeking a very specific candidate. We want someone who is passionate about our mission and who believes in the power of crypto and blockchain technology to update the financial system. We want someone who is eager to leave their mark on the world, who relishes the pressure and privilege of working with high caliber colleagues, and who actively seeks feedback to keep leveling up. We want someone who will run towards, not away from, solving the company’s hardest problems.

Our work culture is intense and isn’t for everyone. But if you want to build the future alongside others who excel in their disciplines and expect the same from you, there’s no better place to be.

While many roles at Coinbase are remote-first, we are not remote-only. In-person participation is required throughout the year. Team and company-wide offsites are held multiple times annually to foster collaboration, connection, and alignment. Attendance is expected and fully supported.

The Application Security organization at Coinbase is seeking to hire an experienced Offensive Security Engineer specializing in Web3 penetration testing and Web3 bug bounty program management and optimization. In this role, you will collaborate with the Bug Bounty Program Lead to drive Web3 bug bounty triage, validation, and strategic initiatives aimed at increasing program efficiency, maturity, and hacker engagement. You will work closely with whitehat hackers, security engineers, and cross-functional teams to enhance Coinbase’s security posture through an effective bug bounty program. Additionally, you will perform penetration tests on Web3 technologies and applications, ensuring the security of Coinbase’s blockchain-based products and services.

What you’ll be doing (ie. job duties) :

Conduct security assessments of Web3 products and services, including smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and blockchain infrastructure.

Collaborate with partner teams to enhance detection and response capabilities for Web3 vulnerabilities.

Stay informed on emerging security trends, advisories, and academic research in the Web3 space.

Lead Web3 bug bounty triage and validation, ensuring timely and accurate assessments of reported vulnerabilities.

Develop and implement strategies to incentivize high-quality bug bounty submissions and engage with the hacker community.

Manage the Web3 bug bounty program, including scope updates, researcher communication, and payout disbursements.

Analyze bug bounty data to identify trends, common vulnerabilities, and areas for improvement.

Collaborate with engineering teams to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities identified through the bug bounty program.

Mentor and train junior security engineers in Web3 bug bounty triage and analysis.

Provide on-call support for critical Web3 bug bounty-related incidents.

Document and report on Web3 bug bounty metrics and program effectiveness.

What we look for in you (ie. job requirements) :

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or a related field.

3+ years of experience in Web3 application security and penetration testing.

Proven track record of identifying critical vulnerabilities across the blockchain protocol stack, Web2, and Web3 components.

Extensive knowledge of the blockchain ecosystem, including L1 / L2 networks, DeFi protocols, and staking mechanisms.

Deep understanding of Web2 security concepts and common vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10, SANS Top 25).

Strong analytical skills to identify trends and patterns in vulnerabilities.

Excellent communication skills for engaging with internal teams.

Passion for security and a drive to improve Web3 security posture.

Ability to work independently and take ownership of penetration testing initiatives.

Energy and self-drive for continuous learning in the rapidly evolving crypto space.

Excellence in clear, direct, and kind communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Experience building relationships with product, engineering, and security teams.

Nice to haves :

Participation in CTFs, bug bounty programs, or open-source security research.

Expertise in Application Security, Network Security, or Cloud Security.

Relevant security certifications (e.g., OSCP, GPEN).

Experience developing and implementing security tooling to support bug bounty triage and analysis.

Experience with bug bounty programs and platforms, including triage, validation, and researcher communication.

Strong analytical skills to identify trends and patterns in bug bounty submissions.

Excellent communication skills to effectively engage with bug bounty researchers.

Position ID : P69494

#LI-remote

Pay Transparency Notice : Depending on your work location, the target annual salary for this position can range as detailed below. Full time offers from Coinbase also include target bonus + target equity + benefits (including medical, dental, vision and 401(k)).

Pay Range :

$152,405—$179,300 USD

Please be advised that each candidate may submit a maximum of four applications within any 30-day period. We encourage you to carefully evaluate how your skills and interests align with Coinbase's roles before applying.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Coinbase is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by applicable law. Coinbase will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. For US applicants, you may view the Employee Rights and the Know Your Rights notices by clicking on their corresponding links. Additionally, Coinbase participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.

Coinbase is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at accommodations[at]coinbase.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. For quick access to screen reading technology compatible with this site click here to download a free compatible screen reader (free step by step tutorial can be found here).

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AI Disclosure

For select roles, Coinbase is piloting an AI tool based on machine learning technologies to conduct initial screening interviews to qualified applicants. The tool simulates realistic interview scenarios and engages in dynamic conversation. A human recruiter will review your interview responses, provided in the form of a voice recording and / or transcript, to assess them against the qualifications and characteristics outlined in the job description.

For select roles, Coinbase is also piloting an AI interview intelligence platform to transcribe and summarize interview notes, allowing our interviewers to fully focus on you as the candidate.

The above pilots are for testing purposes and Coinbase will not use AI to make decisions impacting employment . To request a reasonable accommodation due to disability, please contact accommodations[at]coinbase.com