Principal Backend Engineer

Stack

Responsibilities

• ▹Resolve backend friction points across all Engineering teams
• ▹Establish guidelines for inter-service testing
• ▹Improve backend stability and standardize practices across teams, eventually including the ~40-person R&D organization
• ▹Own multi-quarter projects, breaking them into small, iteratively validated steps
• ▹Evaluate the impact of your own work using internal data pipelines and frameworks, pivoting when needed
• ▹Shape the long-term (12-18 month) direction of Engineering
• ▹Work end-to-end from the React client application to the Python monolithic backend, leading projects spanning multiple teams

Requirements

• ▹At least 10 years of software engineering experience, including at least 2 years 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 (scale-up or larger org known for strong engineering culture)
• ▹Ability to work across the stack, with deep server-side and backend knowledge
• ▹Relevant experience building an enterprise-grade SaaS product
• ▹Strong alignment with commercial success

Nice to have

• ▹Experience with AI-powered video generation products
• ▹Experience with billing systems
• ▹Experience with experimentation platforms
• ▹Experience with video delivery systems
• ▹Experience with online editors
• ▹Experience with real-time collaboration features

Soft skills

What we offer

• ▹Base salary starting at EUR/GBP/CHF 200,000 + stock option plan
• ▹25 days of leave + local holidays
• ▹Full-time employment only (no contractors), usually through OysterHR
• ▹Remote work possible from the UK, Germany, Switzerland or Ireland, or in-office

About the company

Synthesia is the world's leading AI video platform for business, used by over 90% of the Fortune 100. Founded in 2017, it is headquartered in London with teams across Europe and the US. Following its Series E round, it raised $200 million at a $4 billion valuation; total funding exceeds $530 million from investors including Accel, NVentures (Nvidia's VC arm), Kleiner Perkins, GV, and Evantic Capital.