Director of Engineering, Mobile

Upstart; United States; Remote; USD 217,000 - 301,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Director of Software Engineering to lead their Mobile Software Engineering team. In this pivotal role, you will shape the mobile strategy and ensure a seamless user experience as the company continues to grow. Your leadership will drive application downloads and optimize the mobile journey for users, enabling them to manage their loan applications effortlessly. This innovative firm offers a digital-first work environment, allowing you to work remotely while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful mobile solutions. If you are passionate about technology and making a difference, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Life and disability insurance

Generous leave policies

Annual wellness reimbursement

Catered lunches and snacks in office

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading mobile engineering teams in high-growth tech companies.
• Strong background in native mobile development for iOS and Android.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the mobile engineering vision and culture of excellence.
• Lead and grow a high-performing mobile engineering team.

Skills

Mobile Engineering Leadership

Native Mobile Development

Team Management

Data-Driven Mindset

Collaboration with Product and Design

Job description

About Upstart

Upstart is a leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than two-thirds of Upstart loans are approved instantly and are fully automated.

Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.

Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you!

The Team

As the Director, Software Engineering, Mobile, you will lead and scale Upstart’s Mobile Software Engineering organization, shaping and driving our overall mobile strategy. With the majority of customer interactions now occurring via mobile, this channel is critical to Upstart’s continued growth. Your leadership will ensure that our mobile technology evolves to meet the demands of a multi-product company while delivering a seamless, engaging, and high-performing user experience. Specifically, Mobile Software Engineering is responsible for:

1. Expanding Our Reach – Driving application downloads and seamless account creation to bring more customers to Upstart.
2. Optimizing Conversion – Enhancing the mobile journey to convert visitors into applicants and borrowers efficiently.
3. Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value – Enabling users to manage their loan applications, access credit repeatedly, and make monthly repayments effortlessly.
4. Building a Strong Foundation – Providing the tools and capabilities necessary to support all loan products through mobile technology.

As a key engineering leader, you will collaborate closely with Product Management, Legal & Compliance, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics, and Loan Product teams to drive mobile innovation and excellence.

How you’ll make an impact:

1. Define and drive the mobile engineering vision – Establish a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
2. Lead and grow a high-performing team – Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering leaders and individual contributors, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
3. Deliver a world-class mobile experience – Lead the development of a robust, native iOS application that enables users to apply for loans, manage their accounts, and handle repayments seamlessly.
4. Operationalize success metrics – Establish clear KPIs to measure engineering efficiency, product performance, and business impact.
5. Drive automation and process improvements – Champion best practices in mobile development, CI/CD, testing, and deployment.
6. Strategic Roadmapping & Prioritization – Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute medium- and long-term mobile strategies.

What we’re looking for:

1. Proven experience leading mobile engineering teams in high-growth, consumer-facing technology companies.
2. Strong background in native mobile development (iOS and Android preferred), including deep expertise in engineering best practices, frameworks, and scalable architectures.
3. Demonstrated ability to scale and structure teams, balancing technical leadership with people management.
4. Experience working closely with Product, Design, and Analytics to develop customer-centric mobile experiences.
5. A data-driven mindset, with a strong ability to measure impact and drive continuous improvement.

Position Location - This role is available in the following locations: Remote, San Mateo, Columbus, Austin.

Time Zone Requirements - This team operates across all U.S. time zones.

Travel Requirements - This team has regular on-site collaboration sessions. These occur 4-5 consecutive days at a time, twice a quarter, at an Upstart office. If you need to travel to make these meetups, Upstart will cover all travel-related expenses.

What you'll love:

1. Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
2. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart
3. 401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savings
4. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
5. Life and disability insurance
6. Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave
7. Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
8. Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
9. Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
10. Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-Director

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k). United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range $217,400 — $300,900 USD

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented classes receive better access to affordable credit, and are just as committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices. We celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and know that we can only become better together.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [e-mail]

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