Director of Engineering, Kraken

• The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable designing long-term roadmaps and organizational structures as they are diving into architecture reviews and debugging complex issues with engineers
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, including at least 5 years of engineering leadership with full accountability for team delivery and technical quality
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams in financial services, fintech, or blockchain-based systems
• Deep technical background in scalable distributed systems, trading platforms, or digital asset infrastructure
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments and influence outcomes without authority
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, including experience working with exec-level stakeholders and external partners
• Strong product intuition and customer-first mindset
• Prior experience working in a regulated environment or building compliant financial systems

Desirable

• We are looking for a Director of Engineering to lead Kraken’s Equities and Tokenised Equities initiatives
• This is a high-impact leadership role that combines strategic vision, technical depth, and people leadership
• You will be accountable for delivering a world-class experience in a category that sits at the intersection of traditional and decentralized finance
• This is a critical role for Kraken’s expansion beyond crypto, requiring a seasoned engineering leader who thrives in ambiguous environments, has a bias for action, and deeply understands how to build reliable, scalable, and compliant financial systems
• Set the technical and strategic direction for the Equities and Tokenised Equities team, aligning engineering outcomes with Kraken’s broader business goals
• Build and lead a high-performing team of engineers and managers, cultivating a strong culture of ownership, innovation, and execution excellence
• Partner with Product, Compliance, Legal, and other stakeholders to define roadmap, operating model, and technical constraints for equities offerings
• Ensure a world-class user experience across jurisdictions, balancing performance, security, and regulatory requirements
• Oversee the architecture and operational maturity of the systems powering tokenised and traditional equity trading, including integrations with exchanges, custodians, and on-chain infrastructure
• Drive cross-functional engineering initiatives that span multiple teams, acting as a connector across product verticals
• Attract, grow, and retain top-tier engineering talent through mentorship, recruiting, and career development
• Monitor and manage team performance, engineering velocity, technical debt, and production stability
• Represent the team’s work to senior leadership and external partners as needed