Principal Backend Engineer
$12k - $18k • Remote • London • FullTime
Posted 8mo ago
About the job
Synthesia is seeking a Principal Backend Engineer to focus on backend issues across all engineering teams, aiming to improve stability and standardize practices. This role involves owning projects that span quarters, requiring iterative delivery and validation. The engineer will evaluate their own work using data pipelines and frameworks to understand commercial impact and pivot as needed. A key aspect of the role is considering the long-term direction of engineering, anticipating future challenges, and developing capabilities to stay ahead. The engineer will work end-to-end, from the client application to the monolithic backend, and lead cross-team projects.
Responsibilities
- Address friction points in backend systems for all engineering teams.
- Improve overall system stability and standardize backend practices.
- Steer backend development in the right direction.
- Standardize engineering practices and bring R&D teams closer.
- Own projects spanning quarters, breaking them down into iterative steps.
- Evaluate work impact using data pipelines and frameworks.
- Consider long-term engineering direction and future challenges.
- Work end-to-end across the stack, from client application to backend.
- Lead projects that span multiple teams.
Requirements
- At least ten years of experience as a software engineer.
- At least two years of experience at Senior Staff/Principal level (L7+).
- Previous leadership experience driving projects across multiple teams (50+ Engineers).
- Experience in a high-performing engineering organization operating at scale.
- Ability to work across the stack with deep server-side and backend knowledge.
- Relevant engineering experience for a team building an enterprise-grade SaaS product.
- Experience delivering AI-powered video generation products, billing systems, experimentation platforms, video delivery systems, online editors, or real-time collaboration is a plus.
- Strong alignment with commercial success.
Benefits
- Stock option plan
- 25 days of leave + local holidays