Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior/Staff Software Engineer

at Synonym

🏢 About Synonym

Synonym is building the infrastructure for bioproducts to scale, directly tackling decarbonization through sustainable industrial solutions. Unlike typical tech companies, they're at the intersection of biology, AI, and industrial engineering, offering the chance to work on meaningful climate technology with real-world impact. As an early-stage startup, you'd join a small team shaping both the product and company culture from the ground up.

About This Role

This senior/staff engineer will transform an MVP into an enterprise-grade platform used by industrial teams, requiring ownership of large product areas and foundational systems. You'll blend AI, industrial modeling, and complex data flows while working across the entire stack—from backend services to frontend architecture. The role involves direct collaboration with founders and early customers to influence technical decisions and product direction.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start by reviewing simulation data pipeline performance, then collaborate with founders on architectural decisions for a new AI modeling feature. After lunch, you could be implementing React components for a data visualization dashboard while also designing backend services in Python to handle industrial-scale data processing. The day often includes direct conversations with early customers about their needs and documenting system designs for the growing engineering team.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Synonym

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Synonym Is Looking For

  • Has shipped production software at an early-stage startup, ideally owning projects end-to-end from design through deployment in ambiguous environments
  • Demonstrates strong proficiency in both Python and TypeScript/React with proven ability to build full-stack features
  • Shows thoughtful system architecture approach with pragmatic decision-making when requirements are unclear
  • Communicates complex technical ideas clearly in writing and verbally, with strong documentation habits

📝 Tips for Applying to Synonym

1

Highlight specific examples where you took an MVP or early-stage product to enterprise-grade scale, emphasizing the technical challenges overcome

2

Demonstrate your ability to work across the entire stack by mentioning projects that involved both backend (Python/data pipelines) and frontend (TypeScript/React) components

3

Showcase experience blending different technical domains—mention projects involving AI/ML, data engineering, and complex systems integration

4

Include examples of collaborating directly with founders or early customers to shape technical architecture or product direction

5

Provide links to code samples or projects that show clean architecture decisions in Python and TypeScript, especially in ambiguous problem spaces

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience taking products from MVP to enterprise-scale platforms, specifically mentioning technical challenges in scaling', 'Examples of working across the full stack with Python and TypeScript/React in production environments', "How you've made pragmatic architecture decisions in ambiguous startup environments with limited resources", "Your interest in sustainable technology and bioproduct infrastructure, connecting it to Synonym's mission"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Understand the bioproducts industry—what are the key challenges in scaling sustainable industrial solutions that Synonym is addressing?
  • → Research the founders' backgrounds and previous work to understand the company's technical philosophy and culture
  • → Look into current industrial biotech platforms to understand the competitive landscape and where Synonym might differentiate
  • → Explore how AI/ML is applied in industrial modeling and bioprocess optimization to understand the technical domain

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 System design question: "How would you architect a platform that blends AI models, industrial simulation data, and complex data flows for enterprise clients?"
2 Technical depth: "Walk us through a time you took an MVP to production scale, focusing on the architectural decisions you made and why"
3 Startup experience: "Describe a project you owned end-to-end at an early-stage company, including how you handled ambiguity and changing requirements"
4 Full-stack proficiency: "Show us how you'd approach building a feature that requires both backend Python services and frontend React components"
5 Collaboration: "How have you worked with non-technical stakeholders or early customers to shape technical architecture?"
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on one part of the stack—this role requires genuine full-stack capability across Python backend and TypeScript/React frontend
  • Presenting only large-company experience without demonstrating ability to work in ambiguous, resource-constrained startup environments
  • Using generic architecture patterns without showing pragmatic adaptation to real-world constraints and changing requirements

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Synonym!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →