Staff/Lead Engineer, back end - Video Generation
Role highlights
100,000–100,000 EUR
Full Time
Permanent
Lead
Remote
This Staff/Lead Engineer role in back-end video generation requires over 7 years of software engineering experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership capacity. The candidate must possess deep expertise in server-side and back-end development, primarily using Python, with optional familiarity in React for occasional front-end tasks. Strong proficiency with AWS cloud services is essential, alongside experience in platform engineering—building and maintaining internal platforms that serve multiple teams. The role emphasizes building resilient, scalable video generation pipelines and developing robust monitoring and debugging tools to ensure system reliability. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to manage and deliver complex, multi-month projects by breaking them into actionable steps, using data-driven approaches to align engineering efforts with commercial objectives. Leadership experience with small teams is critical, including planning for future engineering challenges over a 6 to 12-month horizon. A commercially minded engineer comfortable working in high-performing, scalable teams is sought. The position is remote within the EU, UK, or Switzerland, offering a competitive salary plus stock options. The company values fast decision-making, AI safety, ethics, and security, and supports a culture focused on building impactful technology with minimal distractions. The candidate should be prepared for a multi-stage hiring process involving technical interviews, live coding, system design, and leadership discussions. A bachelor's degree is required, supporting a solid educational foundation. Overall, this role suits a senior engineering leader skilled in backend infrastructure, cloud platforms, and project ownership within AI-driven video technology environments.
About the role
Staff/Lead Engineer, Back End – Video Generation
Role Summary
- Join Synthesia's Video Platform team to build and maintain critical infrastructure for video generation
- Focus on resilience, scalability, and monitoring of the video generation pipeline
- Take ownership of long-term projects, breaking them into deliverable steps
- Evaluate your work using data to align with commercial objectives
- Contribute to the long-term direction and engineering capabilities of the team
Responsibilities
- Improve resilience and scalability of the video generation pipeline
- Build monitoring and debugging tools for the video pipeline
- Own and deliver projects spanning several months
- Use data pipelines and frameworks to assess feature impact
- Plan for future engineering challenges (6–12 months ahead)
Requirements
- At least 7 years of software engineering experience, with 2+ years at lead level
- Experience in high-performing, scalable engineering teams (scale-up or established organizations)
- Deep knowledge of server-side and back end; Python on backend, React on frontend (BE-only experience is fine)
- Strong AWS experience
- Platform engineering experience, building internal platforms for multiple teams
- Commercially minded
- Previous leadership experience with small teams
Nice to Have
- Willingness to occasionally assist with frontend tasks
Benefits
- Remote role from an EU country, UK, or Switzerland
- Salary starts at EUR/GBP/CHF 100,000 base + stock option plan
- Full-time employment only (no contractors), usually via OysterHR
- 25 days of leave + local holidays
- VISA sponsorship for those already in the UK/EU (no relocation)
Why Join Us?
- Work at a fast-growing AI company with proprietary technology
- Trusted by 50,000+ customers, including 50% of the Fortune 500
- Backed by top investors (Accel, Nvidia, Kleiner Perkins, Google, and more)
- Strong focus on AI safety, ethics, and security
- Culture of building, fast decision-making, and minimal distractions
Hiring Process
- 30–40 min call with Technical Recruiter
- 45 min call with Engineering Manager (past projects)
- 90 min live coding interview (collaboration exercise)
- 60 min system design interview (real production problem)
- 45 min call with leadership (collaboration, growth, team details)
- Process can be completed in seven working days
How to Apply
- More details on what to expect and how to prepare are available on the Synthesia website.
More roles from Synthesia
View company profileEnterprise Account Executive DACH
København
Join as Enterprise Account Executive DACH to drive growth and build key client relationships in the region. Apply now to...
Senior Product Designer
København
Join Synthesia as a Senior Product Designer to shape AI-powered video tools with a collaborative team. Apply now for a f...
Synthesia
In a nutshell: we're building a video production studio - in browser. Here's our story 👇 Synthesia is the global leader in synthetic media. Our vision is to...
- Location
- København
- Employees
- 51-200 employees
- Website
- www.synthesia.io