Senior or Staff Software Engineer

Job description

TRM is on a mission to build a safer financial system for billions of people. We deliver a blockchain intelligence data platform to financial institutions, crypto companies, and governments to fight cryptocurrency fraud and financial crime. We consider our business — and our profit — as a way to move towards our mission sustainably and at scale.

As a Senior or Staff Software Engineer on the Graph Analytics team, you will build scalable graph systems that analyze large networks of cryptocurrency transactions. You will collaborate closely with engineers, data scientists, and investigators to design mission-critical graph algorithms that analyze flows of funds. You will leverage distributed databases and graph processors to implement real-time graph algorithms at the multi-blockchain scale. You will collaborate with data science teams to identify opportunities to apply tools and techniques from graph theory to a variety of predictive learning problems.

The impact you will have:

• Designing and implementing graph algorithms that analyze large cryptocurrency transaction networks at multi-blockchain scale
• Researching new graph-native technology to evaluate benefit to data science and data engineering teams at TRM
• Working on a highly cross-functional team that collaborates with cryptocurrency investigators to identify key user stories and requirements for new graph algorithms and features
• Understanding and refining TRM’s risk models which analyze large networks of cryptocurrency transactions to assign risk scores to addresses
• Communicating complex implementation details to a variety of audiences from investigators and customer success stakeholders to data engineers and data scientists
• Integrating with a diverse set of data inputs ranging from raw blockchain data to complex model outputs

What we’re looking for:

• Your academic background is in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or Physics.
• You have strong knowledge of algorithm design and data structures, and have experience applying this knowledge towards real-world problems.
• You have experience optimizing large-scale distributed data processing systems such as Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Dask, and distributed graph databases.
• You have experience converting academic research into products and have worked with research teams that regularly ship new features.
• You have strong programming experience with Python and SQL.
• You are an excellent communicator who is skilled at tailoring explanations of complex topics to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• You are delivery-oriented. You are able to lead and execute new features start to finish.
• You are autonomous and own what you work on. You move fast and get things done.
• You are knowledgeable of basic graph theory concepts.

About the Team:

• Our team is spread out over several countries and time zones. To leverage the opportunities and address challenges that come with this working model, we’ve built a culture grounded in trust, transparency, and adaptability. Even though we’re scattered across different time zones, we stay closely connected through open communication and regular check-ins. Our use of digital tools helps us collaborate seamlessly and work at an impressive pace, delivering results at TRM speed while staying in sync. The diversity of perspectives and expertise within our team sparks creative exchanges and enhances our problem-solving capabilities, allowing us to leverage our global synergy to drive innovation and efficiency.
• We’re driven by a deep sense of ownership, constant pursuit of improvement and an obsession with delivering magical experiences to our customers; these are a core part of our culture. We’re driven by the desire to continuously hone our craft and to this end, we regularly assess our processes, seek feedback, and embrace iterative development to refine what we do. We structure problems and use the ⁸⁰⁄₂₀ rule(for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes) to identify where to direct our razor-sharp focus. Each of us is passionate about excellence and growth, and we’re encouraged to challenge the status quo and experiment with new methods. This mindset creates an environment where innovation is part of our daily routine and every team member is an impact-oriented trailblazer. By celebrating our successes and learning from our setbacks, we stay agile and forward-thinking, always striving to elevate our performance and impact.

Learn about TRM Speed in this position:

• The team received a request from customers to show the running balance for assets tied to an address within the product. They brainstormed to determine the minimal viable solution that could be delivered within two weeks. The team decided to develop a framework that would facilitate enabling this feature for each chain (such as BTC, ETH, etc.) individually. They successfully implemented and tested this solution for the BTC chain and delivered it to customers within the two-week timeframe. This approach allowed the team to quickly provide value to customers and establish a repeatable process.
• The team was tasked with implementing a new feature that would enable TRM to gather feedback from the user community swiftly. Due to the company’s goal of showcasing the feature at an upcoming event, the timeline was tight. The team quickly adjusted to the request, assessed the requirements, and developed a solution that addressed 80% of the needs and could be executed within a very short timeframe. They successfully delivered the feature on schedule, impressing customers with both the functionality and the speed of execution.
• The team was tasked with developing a solution to reveal Indirect Exposure through cross-chain swaps in response to a competitor’s similar feature. Before choosing the technical approach, the team consulted with stakeholders to establish a feasible timeline for the implementation. With this input, the team devised a solution that fit the timeline, communicated the tradeoffs to stakeholders, and successfully delivered the solution as promised.

About TRM’s Engineering Levels:

Engineer: Responsible for helping to define project milestones and executing small decision decisions independently with the appropriate tradeoffs between simplicity, readability, and performance. Provides mentorship to junior engineers, and enhances operational excellence through tech debt reduction and knowledge sharing.

Senior Engineer: Successfully designs and documents system improvements and features for an OKR/project from the ground up. Consistently delivers efficient and reusable systems, optimizes team throughput with appropriate tradeoffs, mentors team members, and enhances cross-team collaboration through documentation and knowledge sharing.

Staff Engineer: Drives scoping and execution of one or more OKRs/projects that impact multiple teams. Partners with stakeholders to set the team vision and technical roadmaps for one or more products. Is a role model and mentor to the entire engineering organization. Ensures system health and quality with operational reviews, testing strategies, and monitoring rigor.

The following represents the expected range of compensation for this role:

• The estimated base salary range for this role is $200,000 - $255,000.
• Additionally, this role may be eligible to participate in TRM’s equity plan.

Life at TRM Labs

Leadership Principles

Our Leadership Principles are foundational element of our strategy, guiding how we make decisions, how we treat each other, and how we behave day-to-day.

• Impact-Oriented Trailblazer: We put customers first, driving for speed, focus, and adaptability.
• Master Craftsperson: We prioritize speed, high standards, and distributed ownership.
• Inspiring Colleague: We value humility, candor, and a one-team mindset.

Build a Career

Joining TRM means being part of a mission-driven team comprised of industry leaders. At TRM, you’ll experience:

• Purpose and Mission: Have a real-world impact, from disrupting terrorist networks to returning stolen funds.
• Inspiring Colleagues: Collaborate with industry leaders and learn something new daily.
• Personal Growth: We’re not just using technology; we’re inventing it and taking category-defining products to market.

Work Environment

• Remote First: Our HQ is online. Tools like Zoom and Slack ensure seamless collaboration, but we also value in-person interactions, organizing regular meetups and offsites for team bonding. Clear communication is key in our decentralized setup. With tools like Slack, Loom, and voice notes, we document meetings and decisions, promoting transparency and efficiency.
• Ownership & TRM Speed: Small teams drive big goals at TRM. Every team member has significant ownership and responsibility, fostering an environment of initiative and direct impact. While there’s no strict clocking in or out, we expect team members to balance personal schedules and team needs. We move “surprisingly fast” while maintaining a high bar in service of our customers and mission. This can feel both intense and rewarding. Our unique approach to projects emphasizes quick wins, rapid iterations, and constant feedback.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Diversity at TRM encompasses backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Every day is an opportunity to learn from a colleague, whether they’re a law enforcement expert or a tech pioneer.
• Annual Company Offsite: Once a year, TRMers come together from around the world to attend a 1-week mandatory company offsite. This is designed to foster in-person relationships, creativity, and strategic alignment. Employee attendance is required of all TRMers.

Join Us

We’re looking for team members who love building from the ground up and want to work hard in a fast-paced and ambitious environment. We are remote-first, with exceptionally talented team members located around the world. If you like solving tough problems quickly and seeing your work improve the lives of billions of people, we want you at TRM.

We encourage you to reach out even if your experience doesn’t precisely match the job description. Don’t worry about picking exactly the right job; we can always explore other options after starting the conversation. Your passion and interests will set you apart, especially if your background or career is unconventional.

To all recruitment agencies: TRM Labs does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to TRM Labs employees. TRM Labs is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with the Company.