Benchling

Software Engineer, Full Stack, Developer Productivity

Benchling3 days ago
Location

San Francisco, CA

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 148,000 – 200,000

Level

Mid

Role

Full Stack Engineer

Posted

Jun 30, 2026

Full TimeMid

The role

Summary

Join Benchling as a Full Stack Engineer on the Developer Productivity team, where you'll design and build tools that empower engineers to accelerate life sciences R&D. This role focuses on frontend development within one of the largest React applications in the industry, requiring expertise in modern web frameworks (Node.js or Python) and a passion for enhancing developer experience through thoughtfully architected tooling, frameworks, and end-to-end feature ownership.

What you'll do

End-to-End Feature Ownership: Own features across their complete lifecycle from initial design and prototyping through large-scale production rollout, ensuring quality and impact at every stage of the development process.
Frontend Architecture & Framework Development: Design, architect, and extend frontend frameworks and infrastructure that power one of the industry's most complex and richly-featured React applications, handling sophisticated scientific analysis workflows and real-time data visualization.
Developer Tooling & Infrastructure: Build and implement comprehensive developer tooling solutions including testing frameworks, build systems, packaging utilities, and deployment automation to ensure frictionless development experiences and efficient production releases.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, design teams, and engineering peers to translate customer needs into developer-focused solutions that improve workflow efficiency and make Benchling a delightful software development environment.
Team Scaling & Process Maturation: Contribute to scaling both the engineering team and product by helping establish best practices, implementing robust engineering processes, improving tooling strategies, and participating in hiring to build high-performing teams.

What we look for

Technical

React Framework ExpertiseDeep proficiency with React and modern JavaScript/TypeScript patterns, with ability to work within and extend large-scale, complex applications that handle sophisticated state management and real-time data interactions.
Backend Web Framework ExperienceStrong expertise with at least one backend web framework, with Python or Node.js as preferred technologies, including RESTful API design, database integration, and scalable application architecture.
Full Stack Development CapabilitiesDemonstrated ability to design and implement solutions across multiple layers of the technology stack, from frontend UI components and state management to backend services and data persistence.
Developer Tools & Build SystemsExperience building or significantly contributing to developer tools, build systems, testing frameworks, or internal infrastructure that improves developer productivity and code quality.
Software Architecture & Design PatternsStrong understanding of software architecture principles, design patterns, and best practices for building scalable, maintainable systems that can evolve as requirements and team size grow.

Education

Computer Science FundamentalsStrong foundation in computer science principles, data structures, algorithms, and software engineering best practices; formal degree in Computer Science, related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience

Professional Software Engineering BackgroundMinimum 3+ years of professional software engineering experience shipping production-quality code and delivering features that directly impact end users.
Product-Centric Development MindsetDemonstrated track record of building software with a product-first philosophy, shipping code rapidly while maintaining focus on real-world impact and measurable business outcomes.
Complex Problem-Solving & IterationProven ability to tackle ambiguous, complex technical challenges through systematic problem-solving, incorporating feedback effectively, and iterating toward optimal solutions.
Ownership & LeadershipExperience taking full ownership of significant features or technical initiatives, demonstrating accountability from conception through delivery and ongoing maintenance.

Skills

Required skills

ReactExpert-level proficiency with React including hooks, component composition, state management libraries (Redux, Context API, Zustand), and performance optimization techniques for large-scale applications.
TypeScriptAdvanced TypeScript skills with ability to write type-safe, maintainable code and establish typing patterns across complex applications, leveraging type system for catching errors at development time.
Python or Node.jsProduction-level proficiency with Python (Django, Flask, FastAPI) or Node.js (Express, NestJS) for backend development, API design, database interaction, and server-side logic implementation.
Full Stack IntegrationAbility to integrate frontend and backend systems seamlessly, designing APIs, handling data flow, managing asynchronous operations, and debugging across the entire technology stack.
Problem-Solving & DebuggingStrong analytical skills for troubleshooting complex issues, diagnosing performance bottlenecks, and implementing systematic solutions across frontend and backend systems.
Communication & CollaborationExcellent communication skills with ability to articulate technical decisions, explain complex concepts to cross-functional partners, and collaborate effectively with designers, product managers, and engineers.

Nice to have

Testing Framework ExpertiseExperience with testing tools and frameworks (Jest, Vitest, pytest, React Testing Library) and ability to build comprehensive test infrastructure that improves code reliability and developer confidence.
Build & Deployment ToolingFamiliarity with modern build tools (Webpack, Vite, Turborepo), CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker), and deployment systems that streamline developer workflows and production releases.
Performance OptimizationExperience optimizing application performance through frontend rendering optimization, code splitting, lazy loading, API request optimization, and database query efficiency improvements.
Scientific Domain KnowledgeInterest in or foundational understanding of life sciences, biotech workflows, scientific data structures, or research processes; domain expertise not required but genuine curiosity is valued.
System Design & ScalabilityExperience architecting systems designed to scale with team growth and product complexity, including database schema optimization, caching strategies, and distributed system principles.
Open Source ContributionTrack record of contributing to open source projects, demonstrating collaborative coding practices, code review experience, and engagement with developer community standards.
Internal Tools & Platform DevelopmentPrior experience building internal developer platforms, tooling, or infrastructure that measurably improved team productivity, reduced friction, or enabled faster feature delivery.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 148,000 – 200,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity & Stock Options

Participation in company equity through stock option grants, aligning employee interests with long-term company success and providing wealth-building opportunities as Benchling grows.

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Medical, dental, and vision coverage with company-subsidized premiums, ensuring employee wellness and access to healthcare services.

Flexible Hybrid Work Arrangement

Hybrid work model requiring 3 days per week on-site (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) with flexibility for remote work, supporting work-life balance and focus time.

Professional Development & Learning

Support for continuous learning through conference attendance, technical training, courses, and tuition reimbursement to develop expertise in emerging technologies and domain knowledge.

401(k) Retirement Plan

Tax-advantaged retirement savings plan with company matching contributions, supporting long-term financial security and retirement planning.

Generous Time Off

Competitive paid time off policy including vacation days, sick leave, and company holidays, promoting rest and preventing burnout.

Mental Health & Wellness Support

Access to mental health services, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), wellness programs, and resources supporting employee wellbeing and work-life balance.

Inclusive & Diverse Culture

Commitment to building a welcoming environment for employees of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, with equal opportunity employment practices.

Interview process

  1. 1
    AI Fluency Assessment — Brief AI-focused exercise or discussion designed to understand your approach to AI integration in software development. You may reference any AI tools, platforms, or workflows you currently use. This reflects Benchling's commitment to AI fluency as a core competency.
  2. 2
    Technical Screening — Coding interview or technical problem-solving exercise evaluating your proficiency with React, full stack development, and your approach to architectural decisions and system design.
  3. 3
    System Design Interview — Discussion of how you would architect scalable systems, design APIs, and structure codebases for maintainability. May include designing developer tools or frameworks similar to responsibilities in the role.
  4. 4
    Product Sense & Impact Discussion — Conversation focused on your product-first thinking, past examples of shipping features with real-world impact, and your approach to balancing technical excellence with shipping velocity.
  5. 5
    Cross-Functional Collaboration Interview — Interview with product, design, or other engineering team members to evaluate communication skills, collaboration abilities, and how you work with diverse perspectives.
  6. 6
    Domain Interest & Curiosity Discussion — Conversation exploring your interest in life sciences and biotech, your ability to rapidly learn new domains, and your genuine curiosity about how your work impacts scientific research.
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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
TypeScriptJavaScriptPythonNode.js/JavaScript Backend
Frameworks
ReactReact Query / TanStack QueryRedux or ZustandNext.jsDjango or FastAPIExpress.js or NestJS
Databases
PostgreSQLRedisMongoDB
Tools
Git & GitHubWebpack / ViteJestDockerFigmaLinear or Jira
Other
REST APIsGraphQLWeb Performance OptimizationCI/CD PipelinesMicroservices ArchitectureAI/ML Integration
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