Software Engineer, Lifecycle

Upstart; United States; Remote; USD 142,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Annual equity grants

401k with company match

Comprehensive health coverage

Remote-friendly culture

Job summary

Upstart, a digital-first AI lending marketplace, is seeking a Software Engineer II to design scalable backend services for its lifecycle communications platform. You will work with Lifecycle Marketing, Data Platform, Analytics, and ML teams to deploy robust, data-driven solutions across channels.

The role emphasizes ownership, collaboration, and delivering impactful engineering work while maintaining high standards for reliability and performance in a distributed team environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics, or equivalent with 3 years of experience
• Experience building and operating microservices and APIs in cloud environments (AWS preferred)
• Proficiency in at least one backend language: Kotlin, Java, Ruby, or Python
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute on projects, navigate ambiguity, and collaborate with cross-functional partners
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in a distributed team

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable backend services powering unified communications across SMS, email, push, and future channels
• Develop real-time, event-triggered messaging and self-serve marketing automation capabilities
• Translate large datasets into high-leverage marketing functions via APIs, streaming pipelines, and reverse ETL workflows
• Collaborate with product managers, lifecycle marketing, data insights, analytics, and data platform teams to define requirements and deliver data-driven solutions
• Lead medium-sized projects independently, identifying risks and driving execution from design to launch
• Improve system reliability and iteration speed while communicating trade-offs to stakeholders

Skills

Microservices

APIs

AWS

Kotlin

Java

Python

Ruby

Distributed team

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics

Tools

Hightouch

Census

Airbyte

Fivetran

Databricks

Iterable

Braze

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

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 1,800 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:

Upstart’s Lifecycle Platform team develops innovative solutions, strategies, and systems that enable personalized, timely communication with millions of current and prospective customers. We build and scale the platforms behind preference management, email, SMS, push notifications, and emerging channels—ensuring the right message reaches the right user at the right time.

As a Software Engineer II on the team, you will be part of the broader Growth organization and partner closely with Lifecycle Marketing, Distribution, Insights, Data Platform, Analytics, and ML teams. We are the technical thought leaders and subject matter experts for outbound communications across the company. Our mission is to design and operate the infrastructure that transforms rich customer data into actionable, high-impact engagement.

This team operates with speed and ownership. We deploy frequently, unblock ourselves, and hold a high bar for accountability. We are not a siloed engineering team—we collaborate deeply with cross-functional stakeholders and play a central role in shaping the future of Upstart’s marketing platforms.

How you’ll make an impact

• Design and build scalable backend services that power our unified communications platform across SMS, email, push, and future channels.
• Develop systems for real-time, event-triggered messaging and self-serve marketing automation and experimentation capabilities.
• Translate large, complex datasets into high-leverage marketing capabilities through APIs, streaming pipelines, and reverse ETL workflows.
• Partner closely with product managers, lifecycle marketing, data insights, analytics, and data platform teams to define requirements and deliver impactful, data-driven solutions.
• Lead medium-sized projects independently—proactively identifying risks, managing ambiguity, and driving execution from design through launch.
• Strengthen our engineering culture by improving system reliability, accelerating iteration, and clearly communicating technical trade-offs to cross-functional stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics, or a related field (or its equivalent) + 3 years of experience
• Experience building and operating microservices and APIs in a cloud environment (preferably AWS).
• Proficiency in at least one backend language such as Kotlin, Java, Ruby, or Python.
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute on projects, navigate ambiguity, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work in a distributed team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Marketing, Growth, or GTM teams, particularly in environments involving CDPs, customer segmentation, or campaign orchestration.
• Experience with reverse ETL tools (e.g., Hightouch, Census), data pipeline tooling (e.g., Airbyte, Fivetran, Databricks), or marketing automation platforms (e.g.,Iterable, Braze, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud).
• Familiarity with real-time event streaming systems and high-throughput messaging architectures.
• Experience integrating with third-party APIs and building systems that ingest, transform, and expose large volumes of data.
• Track record of leading medium-to-large projects and contributing to system design decisions with long-term platform impact.

Position location

This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time zone requirements

The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.

Travel requirements

As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

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

$142,000—$196,600 USD

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).

Canada | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$136,000—$165,000 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