Software Engineer, Cash Line

Upstart; San Carlos, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

Upstart is seeking a Software Engineer for the Cash Line team to design, build, and operate backend services powering pricing, underwriting, funding, and account management. You'll own features end to end, work with product and design partners, and contribute to the team's reliability and observability while collaborating across the stack on scalable, consumer-facing fintech products.

This remote role supports collaboration with onsite gatherings as needed.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong proficiency building backend services and APIs in Python, Java, Kotlin, Ruby, or Node.js.
• Experience designing and working with REST or GraphQL APIs, data models, and distributed systems.
• Solid fundamentals in writing tested, maintainable code and collaborating through code review.
• Ability to work effectively with product and design partners to deliver features from requirements through production.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain reliable backend services and APIs that support Cash Line and the broader borrower journey.
• Develop systems that power offer generation, pricing, underwriting, funding, and account management experiences.
• Work across the stack to integrate backend capabilities with borrower-facing applications and partner systems.
• Partner with product managers, designers, and engineers to scope, build, and ship features that improve borrower flows and reduce friction.
• Write well-tested, maintainable code and participate in code reviews to raise code quality.
• Contribute to performance, scalability, reliability, and observability of owned systems.
• Support experimentation and iterative improvements by building flexible services and using data to inform next steps.

Skills

Backend services

REST APIs

Distributed systems

Code reviews

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

About Upstart

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.

As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 3,000 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.

We’re proudly digital‑first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital‑first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in‑person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in‑person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.

If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

The Team

Cash Line is one of Upstart's core lending products, helping borrowers access flexible credit through a seamless, digitally native experience. The team owns critical parts of the borrower journey across offer generation, pricing, underwriting, funding, and account management, while partnering closely with the broader lending platform that powers Upstart at scale.

As a Software Engineer on the Cash Line team, you'll design, build, and operate the backend systems that power these experiences. You'll work primarily with backend services, APIs, and data flows that support pricing, underwriting, funding, and account management. This is a hands‑on role where you'll own meaningful features end to end, collaborate across disciplines, and deepen your technical expertise on a business‑critical product.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Design, build, and maintain reliable backend services and APIs that support Cash Line and the broader borrower journey.
• Develop systems that power offer generation, pricing, underwriting, funding, and account management experiences.
• Work across the stack as needed to integrate backend capabilities with borrower-facing applications and partner systems.
• Partner closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to scope, build, and ship features that improve borrower flows and reduce friction.
• Write well‑tested, maintainable code and participate in code reviews, helping raise the quality and consistency of the team's codebase.
• Contribute to the performance, scalability, reliability, and observability of the systems you own, and help diagnose and resolve issues across environments.
• Support experimentation and iterative improvements by building flexible services and using data and customer feedback to inform what gets built next.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, and 4+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong proficiency building backend services and APIs in a language such as Python, Java, Kotlin, Ruby, or Node.js.
• Experience designing and working with REST or GraphQL APIs, data models, and distributed systems or service‑oriented architectures.
• Solid fundamentals in writing tested, maintainable code and collaborating through code review in a team environment.
• Ability to work effectively with product and design partners to deliver features from requirements through production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building scalable, reliable systems for consumer-facing products with complex user journeys.
• Familiarity with automated testing, CI/CD workflows, observability, and modern software development practices.
• Exposure to fintech, lending, payments, or other regulated financial products.
• Experience with experimentation, A/B testing, or feature flagging in production environments.
• Active use of AI tools in engineering workflows, with a thoughtful perspective on how AI is reshaping software development.
• Passion for building products that expand access to credit and improve financial outcomes for consumers.

Position Location

This role is available remotely. As a digital‑first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. Most Upstart employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S. and are encouraged to spend meaningful time collaborating in person through regular onsite gatherings. The cadence varies by team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for two to four consecutive days at a time.

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel may be required for team onsites and other company gatherings.

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-Associate

United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

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).

$142,000—$196,600 USD

Canada | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

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).

$136,000—$184,800 CAD

What you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well‑being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only)
• Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only)Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country)
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life‑centered resources
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only)
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well‑being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
• Connection and community through team events, all‑company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro‑kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!)

For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec.

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.

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]

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy