Staff Data Scientist

Upstart; United States; Remote; USD 167,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual wellness allowance

Equity grants

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Upstart is seeking a Staff Data Scientist to own monitoring and reporting of model and credit performance for Personal Loans. This role provides regular visibility to senior leadership and shapes data-driven decisions at the highest levels of the organization.

In addition to recurring reporting and performance tracking, you will investigate emerging trends, diagnose unexpected outcomes, and recommend actionable treatments.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Operations Research, Physics, or related)
• 6+ years of experience in analytics, data science, or a related quantitative field
• Experience with Python and SQL
• Strong analytical and first-principles thinking
• Strong communication, presentation, and collaboration skills; ability to articulate complex analytical concepts to diverse audiences

Responsibilities

• Own credit and performance monitoring for the Personal Loans product
• Identify performance trends and deep-dive to understand root causes; recommend targeted treatments
• Perform rigorous statistical analyses to evaluate past experiments and natural experiments
• Build and maintain workflows that automate and scale standard reporting

Skills

Python

SQL

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in a quantitative field

PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

A/B testing

Causal inference

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, 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 Personal Loans Underwriting and Credit Analytics team is responsible for building, improving, and monitoring Upstart’s core underwriting model. This model powers our decisions on which loans to approve and at what rates, and as such, it is central to the company’s success.

As a Staff Data Scientist at Upstart, you will own the monitoring and reporting of model and credit performance for Personal Loans. This role provides regular visibility to senior leadership and plays a key role in shaping data-driven decisions at the highest levels of the organization.

In addition to owning recurring reporting and performance tracking, this role requires strong analytical curiosity and investigative rigor. You will proactively monitor portfolio and model performance, identify emerging trends, diagnose unexpected outcomes, and ultimately recommend actionable treatments. This role is well-suited for someone who enjoys going beyond standard reporting to conduct deep analytical investigations and drive meaningful business impact.

How you’ll make an impact

• Own credit and performance monitoring for the Personal Loans product
• Identify performance trends and go deeper to understand root causes and recommend targeted treatments
• Perform rigorous statistical analyses to evaluate past experiments and natural experiments
• Build and maintain workflows that automate and scale standard reporting

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Operations Research, Physics, or related field)
• Experience with Python and SQL
• Strong analytical and first-principles thinking, with the ability to tackle complex and ambiguous problems
• Strong communication, presentation, and collaboration skills; especially with the ability to clearly articulate complex analytical concepts to diverse audiences
• 6+ years of experience in analytics, data science, or a related quantitative field.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Operations Research, Physics, or related)
• Serving as an expert in the areas of experimental testing, Causal Inference, A/B testing or Hypothesis testing
• Experience and familiarity with finance, especially as it related to lending

Position location

This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time zone requirements

The team operates on time zones ranging from EST to PST.

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 or Canada (outside of Quebec) but are expected to spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites and in-person meetings. The onsite cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$166,900—$230,900 USD

Canada | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$153,000—$190,000 USD

What you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits for full-time employees 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

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