Staff Software Engineer - Authentication & Authorization

About Ripple

Ripple is transforming global finance by enabling value to move as seamlessly as information does today. We develop crypto-based solutions tailored for financial institutions, businesses, governments, and developers, enhancing financial systems worldwide to foster fairness and expanded opportunities.

Role Overview

As a Staff Software Engineer in the Authentication and Authorization platform team, you will lead the unification and advancement of identity solutions across Ripple’s diverse product range encompassing payment, custody, and liquidity services. This role involves integrating various identity providers and protocols into a harmonized system, alongside building granular authorization mechanisms utilized company-wide.

Primary Responsibilities

• Steer the technical vision for the identity platform including authentication workflows and federation across multiple identity providers.
• Lead design and implementation of a consistent identity experience across Ripple’s products.
• Develop and maintain platform services within Kubernetes environments, emphasizing robustness, monitoring, and secure management of secrets.
• Collaborate with security, compliance, and product teams to implement regulatory requirements into platform features.
• Create detailed technical proposals and participate in architectural conversations within the engineering organization.
• Guide and mentor fellow engineers through code reviews, design evaluations, and teamwork.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Proven backend development experience using Golang or Java, including managing production-grade applications on Kubernetes.
• Hands-on experience in designing or contributing to identity management systems, ideally involving multi-tenant or federated environments.
• Regular use of AI coding assistants and large language model (LLM)-based tools integrated into daily engineering practices.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to produce design documentation that fosters alignment across teams.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of modern authentication standards such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect (OIDC), and SAML, with real-world production experience.
• Familiarity with policy-as-code approaches for authorization, including attribute-based, relationship-based, or hybrid models.

Work Environment and Culture

• Dynamic startup setting led by seasoned industry experts.
• Supportive learning environment with access to professional development budgets.
• Emphasis on diversity and inclusion to foster a respectful and empowered team culture.
• Flexible in-office collaboration requiring 10+ days per month for team engagement.
• Regular company-wide meetings featuring leadership updates and open Q&A sessions.
• Engaging team-building events such as offsites, bonding activities, and social gatherings.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary, bonus structure, and equity participation.
• Comprehensive benefits addressing physical and mental health, retirement planning, and family support.
• Employee donation matching and mobile phone allowances.
• Generous rest and relaxation (R&R) days and wellness reimbursements with regular onsite and virtual wellness programs.
• Flexible vacation policy in collaboration with management.
• Leading parental leave and family planning benefits.
• Catering services, stocked kitchens, and regular social events for team enjoyment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Ripple fosters an inclusive workplace free from discrimination based on diverse protected characteristics. Our policies reflect our commitment to equity and respect for all employees and applicants. Relevant privacy notices apply to applicants in the UK/EU and California.