Staff Backend Engineer

Location: Remote (US preferred)Level: Staff / PrincipalCompetitive base salary ($175K - $225K)We are hiring on behalf of our client, a high-growth, venture-backed crypto company is hiring a Staff Backend Engineer to help build next-generation autonomous trading infrastructure.This is a senior, ownership-heavy role working on real-time trading systems, wallets, and execution infrastructure operating under extreme market conditions. The client is highly responsive and only interviewing candidates who meet all criteria.🚨 Non-Negotiable Hiring CriteriaCandidates must have all of the following:Hands-on experience with crypto wallets, tokens, and/or trading systemsDeep production experience with Golang, Node.js, and TypeScriptStrong understanding of distributed systems, performance, and reliabilityDeep familiarity with trading APIs, execution flows, and transaction lifecyclesIf any of the above is missing, this role will not be a fit.The RoleYou’ll own core systems inside the Agent Runtime — the infrastructure that prevents autonomous agents from destroying capital. Specifically:Hyperfeed data pipeline — executing the enrichment roadmap: OI velocity, funding history, liquidation data, cross-asset flow detection. Server-side computation at scale.Runtime execution layer — serial signal processing, atomic state management, idempotent order submission, risk enforcement against live exchange stateDSL exit engine — the trailing stop-loss state machine that protects every open position. Two-phase architecture, exchange reconciliation, state recoveryScanner subsystem — building new scanner types, optimizing the provider layer, wiring new Hyperfeed signals into the confluence scoring systemLearning agent infrastructure — building the systems that let agents observe every trade, identify failure patterns, propose runtime improvements, and launch new experiments autonomouslyScale — taking the runtime from hundreds of agents to tens of thousandsRequirementsWhat They Are Looking ForSeniority & OwnershipStaff-level engineer capable of owning large, complex systemsProven ability to lead work end-to-end: problem definition → architecture → productionComfortable making high-impact technical decisions in ambiguous environmentsCrypto-Native Experience (Essential)Direct experience building or operating crypto wallets, trading platforms, or execution systemsDeep understanding of real-world market behaviour, volatility, and scaleStrong intuition for how trading systems behave under stressCrypto experience is essential. Product specifics can be learned - crypto fluency cannot.Technical SkillsStrong production experience with:GolangNode.jsTypeScriptDeep understanding of distributed systems, performance, and reliabilityExperience building high-throughput backend servicesPython experience (scanners and DSL components) is a plusActively uses AI tools in development and iteration (must-have)Operating ExcellenceExperience running production systems: monitoring, on-call, incident responseStrong bias toward correctness and safety in financial systemsPragmatic, outcome-focused approach to shippingBenefitsCompensation & UpsideCompetitive base salary ($175K - $225K)Meaningful equity (~1%)Performance-based bonuses tied to revenue and usageToken participation aligned with future protocol launchInterview ProcessHiring Manager InterviewCTO Intro CallTechnical InterviewTechnical InterviewFounder / CEO InterviewLocationRemote (US preferred)Strong preference for Austin, TX (office planned)Exceptional candidates in Europe will be consideredDue to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing human-resources@mlabs.city.MLabs Ltd collects and processes the personal information you provide such as your contact details, work history, resume, and other relevant data for recruitment purposes only. This information is managed securely in accordance with MLabs Ltd’s Privacy Policy and Information Security Policy, and in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Your data may be shared only with clients and trusted partners where necessary for recruitment purposes. You may request the deletion of your data or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting legal@mlabs.city.