Benchling

Software Engineer, Backend (Release Engineering)

Benchling2 days ago
Location

San Francisco, CA

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 148,000 – 200,000

Level

Mid

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Jul 23, 2026

Full TimeMid

The role

Summary

Join Benchling's Release Engineering team as a Backend Software Engineer to build and maintain critical developer tooling infrastructure that empowers engineers to ship high-quality products at scale. In this role, you'll design and implement tools for efficient development workflows, testing frameworks, and production release pipelines while collaborating cross-functionally with engineering teams to enhance developer experience. This position requires 2+ years of software engineering experience with proficiency in Node.js or Python, strong problem-solving abilities, and a genuine interest in advancing life sciences technology through AI-driven R&D solutions.

What you'll do

Design and Build Developer Tooling Infrastructure: Architect and develop robust tooling for efficient, frictionless development, testing, and packaging workflows that enable production releases. Create automation systems that reduce manual deployment tasks and implement best-in-class CI/CD pipelines that serve the needs of growing engineering teams.
Optimize Developer Experience Through Iterative Improvements: Systematically gather qualitative and quantitative feedback from developers to identify pain points in engineering workflows. Implement data-driven improvements that increase developer productivity, reduce cognitive overhead, and measurably enhance job satisfaction across engineering teams.
Collaborate on Cross-Functional Engineering Challenges: Partner closely with product managers, designers, and peer engineers to understand workflow bottlenecks and craft targeted solutions. Work together to scale Benchling's platform while maintaining code quality and developer happiness as engineering teams grow.
Contribute to Team Scaling and Engineering Excellence: Participate actively in maturing Benchling's engineering processes, establishing best practices, and building out hiring initiatives. Help establish standards for code quality, testing protocols, and deployment procedures that support rapid team growth without sacrificing quality.
Build with Product-First Mentality: Maintain focus on real-world impact of tooling decisions by shipping code quickly and iterating based on developer feedback. Ensure that release engineering solutions directly enable engineers to deliver high-quality scientific software to customers in the biotech and life sciences space.

What we look for

Technical

Backend Web Framework ExpertiseProficiency with at least one modern web framework, with strong preference for Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript) or Python. Demonstrated ability to build scalable backend systems that support complex development workflows and integrate with deployment infrastructure.
CI/CD and Release Engineering KnowledgeSolid understanding of continuous integration, continuous deployment, and release management practices. Experience building or working with tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or similar platforms that automate testing and deployment pipelines.
System Design and ScalabilityStrong foundation in system design principles and the ability to architect solutions that scale as engineering teams grow. Experience optimizing performance, managing infrastructure as code, and designing reliable systems for mission-critical developer tools.
Problem Solving and Technical IterationDemonstrated ability to diagnose complex technical challenges, propose creative solutions, and iterate based on feedback. Experience analyzing developer workflows to identify inefficiencies and implementing targeted improvements that measurably reduce friction.

Education

Computer Science Fundamentals or EquivalentStrong foundational knowledge in computer science principles, software architecture, and engineering best practices. This may be acquired through formal education, intensive bootcamps, or extensive self-directed learning combined with professional experience.

Experience

2+ Years Software Engineering ExperienceMinimum 2 years of professional software engineering experience, preferably with exposure to backend development, infrastructure projects, or developer tooling. Should demonstrate progression in technical complexity and ownership of increasingly critical systems.
Product-Driven Development ApproachTrack record of shipping features and products with a focus on real-world impact and user satisfaction. Experience balancing technical excellence with pragmatism, prioritizing features that directly address customer and developer needs over perfect engineering.
Cross-Functional CollaborationExperience working effectively with product managers, designers, and other engineering disciplines. Demonstrated ability to understand different stakeholder perspectives and incorporate feedback into technical solutions.

Skills

Required skills

Node.js or Python DevelopmentProduction-level proficiency in Node.js with JavaScript/TypeScript or Python for building scalable backend services and developer tools
Backend API DesignExperience designing RESTful APIs and backend systems that serve developer needs with clear, intuitive interfaces
Version Control and Git WorkflowsDeep familiarity with Git-based workflows, branching strategies, and collaborative development practices
Software Testing and Quality AssuranceStrong understanding of unit testing, integration testing, and quality assurance practices for backend systems
Database Design and Query OptimizationSolid knowledge of relational and/or NoSQL databases with ability to design efficient schemas and optimize database performance
Problem Solving and DebuggingStrong analytical and debugging skills with ability to trace issues through complex systems and develop targeted solutions

Nice to have

Release Engineering and DevOps ToolsExperience with release engineering, DevOps practices, and infrastructure automation tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, or infrastructure-as-code frameworks
Life Sciences Domain KnowledgeFamiliarity with biotech, pharmaceutical R&D, or scientific research workflows (not required; curiosity and willingness to learn is essential)
Monitoring and ObservabilityExperience implementing logging, monitoring, alerting systems, and observability practices for production infrastructure
AI and Machine Learning IntegrationFamiliarity with integrating AI models and tools into developer workflows or understanding of how AI enhances developer productivity
Open Source ContributionContributions to open source projects demonstrating collaboration skills and commitment to developer-friendly tooling

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 148,000 – 200,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Hybrid Work Arrangement

Flexible hybrid work model with expectations of on-site collaboration 3 days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday), enabling work-life balance while maintaining team cohesion

AI-Fluent Workplace Culture

Work within a company deeply committed to AI fluency and integration. Access to cutting-edge AI tools and a culture that encourages continuous learning and experimentation with emerging technologies

Mission-Driven Impact

Contribute directly to accelerating biotech R&D and bringing life-saving treatments to patients faster. Work on infrastructure that powers research at leading pharmaceutical companies like Sanofi and Moderna

Growth and Learning Opportunities

Participate in scaling Benchling's engineering organization, contribute to establishing best practices, and engage in hiring initiatives that help build world-class teams

Developer-Centric Environment

Join a company that deeply values developer experience and engineering excellence, with roles specifically designed to empower and support engineering teams

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Phone Screen with Recruiter — Introductory conversation to discuss your background, interest in the role, and alignment with Benchling's mission. Expect to discuss your experience with backend development and release engineering.
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Interview — Focused technical discussion on your backend engineering experience, system design approach, and problem-solving methodology. Likely cover your experience with the tech stack mentioned (Node.js/Python, databases, APIs)
  3. 3
    AI Discussion or Exercise — Benchling is deeply focused on AI fluency. This round will explore how you think about AI, any tools or workflows you currently use, and your interest in integrating AI into your work. You may be asked about specific AI tools you've tried or creative ways you'd apply AI to developer tooling challenges.
  4. 4
    Technical Take-Home Assignment or Coding Challenge — You may receive a practical coding assignment focused on backend development or developer tooling design. This typically lasts a few hours and involves building a small system or solving a realistic engineering problem similar to release engineering challenges
  5. 5
    System Design Interview — Discussion of a larger system design problem related to release engineering, CI/CD pipelines, or developer tooling infrastructure. You'll be evaluated on your ability to think through scalability, reliability, and developer experience considerations
  6. 6
    Team Collaboration and Culture Fit Interview — Meet with team members and potentially cross-functional partners (product, design) to evaluate collaboration style, communication approach, and cultural alignment. Expect questions about empathy for customers, curiosity about life sciences, and your approach to feedback and iteration
  7. 7
    Final Interview with Engineering Leadership — Conversation with engineering leadership to discuss your career trajectory, growth aspirations, and how you'd contribute to Benchling's mission of rebuilding biotech for the AI era. This is also an opportunity to ask strategic questions about team direction and company vision
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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
Node.js / JavaScript / TypeScriptPython
Frameworks
Express.js or equivalent Node.js frameworkDjango, FastAPI, or Flask
Databases
PostgreSQL or MySQLRedis
Tools
GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab CIDocker and Container OrchestrationGit Version Control
Other
Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation)Monitoring and Logging (Datadog, New Relic, ELK Stack)Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
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