Benchling

Software Engineer, Applications (App Foundations) (High Seniority)

Benchling3 days ago
Location

San Francisco, CA

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 225,378 – 304,924

Level

Senior

Role

Senior Software Engineer

Posted

Jul 22, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Software Engineer at High Seniority level leading Benchling's App Foundations group, responsible for Lab Notebook and Enterprise Lifecycle systems that power scientific research and ensure FDA-compliant, GxP-regulated workflows. This role demands deep full-stack expertise across React, Python, and Postgres while serving as a senior IC leader driving platform architecture and mentoring across the Applications division at a company transforming biotech through AI-powered data capture and analysis.

What you'll do

Lead Technical Architecture for Core Platform: Serve as the senior technical authority for Lab Notebook and Enterprise Lifecycle teams, driving design and development of foundational systems including the Notebook interface, structured data-input tables, and enterprise lifecycle infrastructure that anchor the Benchling product experience.
Architect Complex Full-Stack Solutions: Independently design and implement solutions across the entire stack — from backend API models and database schemas to rich React frontend UI — for systems such as comprehensive audit coverage, review and approval workflows, scalable export systems, and document lifecycle management.
Drive Multi-Quarter Strategic Initiatives: Lead large, cross-functional initiatives by breaking down ambiguous business requirements into concrete technical plans with iterative delivery milestones, ensuring solutions scale reliably for an expanding enterprise customer base managing regulated, FDA-compliant workflows.
Set Engineering Direction and Strategy: Act as an IC leader across the Applications division, establishing engineering standards, influencing technical decisions beyond immediate teams, and using technical decision-making as a strategic tool to balance platform leverage, technical debt, and long-term optionality.
Provide Technical Leadership and Mentorship: Mentor engineers across all experience levels through code review, architectural guidance, and technical leadership that raises team standards in testing, performance, and maintainability.
Integrate AI and LLM Capabilities: Explore and evaluate opportunities to leverage AI and language models to improve data capture workflows, automated audit reporting, and compliance capabilities for enterprise customers in life sciences.
Cross-Functional Product Collaboration: Partner closely with product management, design, and regulatory teams to translate customer needs — including compliance and GxP requirements — into robust technical solutions that support FDA submissions and regulated environments.
Own End-to-End Delivery: Take ownership of critical features from planning through development, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance; help scale engineering processes, tooling, hiring practices, and team onboarding across the division.

What we look for

Technical

Full-Stack Web Application Development8+ years of professional software engineering experience with demonstrated progression, including strong experience building backend systems and APIs for cloud-based web applications with ability to build full-stack solutions. Direct experience with React frontend and Python backend is appreciated but adaptability to learn quickly is essential.
Scalable Architecture DesignProven ability to design scalable, robust architectures for horizontal systems that multiple teams depend on, with emphasis on long-term maintainability, performance optimization, and integration across large codebases.
Database Design and OptimizationStrong experience with relational database design and optimization, particularly with Postgres, including schema modeling, query optimization, and data integrity for regulated environments.
Distributed Systems and Backend EngineeringExperience designing and implementing complex backend systems including audit trails, data export pipelines, backup systems, and approval workflows that handle scale and reliability requirements.
AI and Machine Learning IntegrationFamiliarity with AI concepts, LLM capabilities, and practical experience integrating AI tools into workflows; enthusiasm to evaluate AI applications for scientific data capture and compliance automation.

Education

Computer Science or Related FieldBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline, or equivalent professional software engineering experience demonstrating mastery of core principles.
Life Sciences KnowledgeInterest in learning about life sciences; prior biotech or life sciences knowledge is appreciated but not required — enthusiasm to learn scientific domain context is essential.

Experience

Technical Leadership at ScaleExperience as a technical lead on significant projects involving multiple engineers across multiple quarters, with demonstrated ability to mentor and develop other engineers.
Initiative-Level OwnershipTrack record of independently scoping and driving initiative-level work whose impact spans multiple teams and shapes entire product areas or divisions.
Regulated Software DevelopmentExperience with audit, compliance, or GxP-regulated software is a plus; understanding of FDA requirements, data governance, and compliance workflows in enterprise or life sciences contexts highly valued.
Cross-Functional CollaborationExperience working across product, design, and engineering teams; ability to translate business requirements and regulatory needs into technical solutions.

Skills

Required skills

PythonExpert-level Python proficiency for backend development, API design, and systems engineering; ability to write clean, maintainable code at scale.
ReactStrong React expertise for building complex, performant frontend interfaces; understanding of state management, component architecture, and UI optimization.
PostgreSQLDeep expertise in relational database design, optimization, and query performance; experience with complex schemas, indexing strategies, and data integrity.
System Architecture and DesignAbility to design scalable, maintainable architectures for large systems; expertise in trade-offs between consistency, availability, and performance (CAP theorem); experience with microservices or modular design patterns.
Technical CommunicationExcellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear technical designs, architectural documentation, and use influence to align engineers on implementation strategies.
Leadership and MentorshipDemonstrated ability to mentor and develop other engineers; track record of raising team standards in testing, performance, and code quality.

Nice to have

TypeScript/JavaScriptTypeScript experience for full-stack development and type-safe JavaScript applications; reduces bugs and improves maintainability in large React codebases.
Cloud InfrastructureExperience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) for deployment, scaling, and infrastructure-as-code; familiarity with containerization and orchestration.
Data Pipeline and ETL SystemsExperience building scalable data export, ETL, or backup systems; expertise in handling large data volumes efficiently and reliably.
Audit and Compliance SystemsExperience building audit trail systems, approval workflows, or other compliance-focused features in regulated industries.
API Design and REST ArchitectureStrong API design skills with understanding of versioning, deprecation strategies, and building robust interfaces that scale across multiple clients.
Testing and Quality AssuranceExpert knowledge of testing strategies including unit, integration, and end-to-end testing; experience establishing testing standards and best practices.
AI and LLM IntegrationHands-on experience evaluating, integrating, or building with AI models and language models; understanding of prompt engineering and AI workflow optimization.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 225,378 – 304,924 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity and Stock Options

Participate in company growth through stock options; standard for high-seniority engineering roles at well-funded life sciences platform companies.

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Medical, dental, and vision coverage; reflects Benchling's commitment to employee wellness in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Flexible Hybrid Work Arrangement

Work flexibly with expectation of 3 days per week on-site (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) in San Francisco office; supports work-life balance while maintaining collaborative engineering culture.

Professional Development

Investment in continuous learning, conference attendance, and skill development; critical for staying current in rapidly evolving software engineering landscape.

Mentorship and Leadership Development

Opportunities to grow as a technical leader and mentor; support for developing leadership skills through structured programs and peer learning.

Cutting-Edge Technology Environment

Work with modern technology stack (React, Python, PostgreSQL) and latest AI/ML tools; opportunity to shape the future of AI in life sciences.

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening Call — Conversation with recruiting team to assess background, experience, and motivation; typically 30 minutes focused on career trajectory and understanding of the role.
  2. 2
    AI Fluency Discussion or Exercise — Brief AI-focused assessment to understand your thinking about artificial intelligence and how you apply AI tools in your current work. Benchling emphasizes AI fluency, so prepare to discuss tools, platforms, or workflows you currently use.
  3. 3
    Technical Architecture Interview — Deep-dive conversation with senior engineers covering system design, architectural decisions, and your approach to solving complex technical problems; expect discussion of scaling patterns and trade-offs.
  4. 4
    Backend and Full-Stack Technical Interview — Assessment of backend engineering expertise including Python, SQL, and API design; may include live coding, design discussion, or system architecture scenarios relevant to data processing and audit systems.
  5. 5
    Leadership and Mentorship Interview — Conversation with engineering leadership about your experience mentoring engineers, leading initiatives, and working cross-functionally; focus on impact, influence, and team development.
  6. 6
    Product and Domain Expertise Interview — Discussion with product and engineering team members about your understanding of life sciences, regulated environments, and how technical solutions enable product features customers depend on.
  7. 7
    Final Conversation with Engineering Leadership — Meeting with Head of Engineering for Applications to discuss role fit, engineering vision, and how you'll contribute to Benchling's mission of rebuilding biotech for the AI era.
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Benchling

Benchling

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Benchling is a cloud-based platform for life sciences research and development, offering digital solutions for scientific data management, collaboration, and process optimization.

San Francisco, CA, USAFounded 2011benchling.com

Tech Stack

Languages
PythonReact/JavaScript/TypeScriptSQL
Frameworks
ReactDjango or FastAPIRedux or Similar State Management
Databases
PostgreSQL
Tools
Git and Version ControlDocker and ContainerizationCI/CD PipelinesAWS or Cloud InfrastructureMonitoring and Observability Tools
Other
REST API DesignData Export and TransformationAudit Trail SystemsAI and LLM Integration
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