Upstart: Senior Software Engineer, New Product

CloudDevs; San Mateo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Employee equity program

ESPP

Job summary

Upstart is hiring a Senior Software Engineer to design frontend systems for a brand-new consumer credit experience and to build scalable backend services in an AI-native environment. You will collaborate with design and product to translate ideas into features serving millions of users, while shaping engineering culture and best practices.

The role emphasizes autonomy in a zero-to-one product context, with a focus on reliability, observability, and the application of AI tools to streamline

Qualifications

• Experience building frontend and backend systems in production.
• Strong background in distributed systems and event-driven architecture.
• Proficiency in OO languages (e.g., Java, Kotlin, C#, Python, Ruby) and databases.
• Ability to work autonomously in early-stage product environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and build frontend systems for a brand-new consumer credit experience.
• Develop scalable, distributed services with reliable observability.
• Collaborate with design and product to translate intent into features.
• Drive technical decisions in a zero-to-one product environment.
• Apply AI-native workflows to accelerate development and testing.
• Help define engineering best practices and culture.

Skills

Frontend

Backend

Distributed systems

Event-driven

OO languages

Tools

Kafka

SQS

Kinesis

Databases

Job description

Upstart: Senior Software Engineer, New Product

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.

The Team

We’re a small, senior engineering team building a new product within Upstart, focused on helping consumers access responsible and affordable credit. We operate with a startup mindset—lean, fast, and deeply focused on impact. With a greenfield codebase and a high degree of autonomy, we’re shaping both the product and the way modern engineering teams work in an AI-native environment.

How you’ll make an impact:

Design and build the frontend systems that power a brand-new consumer credit experience.

Develop scalable, distributed services using event-driven architectures to ensure reliability, observability, and long-term maintainability.

Collaborate closely with design and product to translate intent into features that serve millions of consumers.

Drive technical decisions in a zero-to-one product environment, balancing speed with high-quality execution.

Apply AI-native workflows to accelerate development, testing, analysis, and documentation.

Help define engineering best practices and culture within a fast-moving and outcome-driven team.

What we’re looking for:

4+ years of experience building frontend and backend systems in production, ideally for consumer-facing applications.

Strong technical background in distributed systems and event-driven architecture (Kafka, SQS, Kinesis, or similar).

Proficiency in object-oriented programming languages (e.g., Java, Kotlin, C#, Python, Ruby) and familiarity with relational databases, APIs, and caching.

Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and thrive in ambiguous, early-stage product environments.

Deep product sense with a strong focus on end-user experience and outcomes.

Familiarity with observability and reliability concepts (metrics, logs, traces, SLOs).

Actively uses AI tools in engineering workflows, with strong opinions about the future of AI in software development.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred qualifications:

Experience at consumer-focused (B2C) fintech or technology companies with millions of users.

Background in backend systems related to payments, credit, or high-scale user workflows.

Experience building zero-to-one products and contributing to product direction in small teams.

Exposure to schema evolution and safe data migrations in distributed environments (e.g., Protobuf, Avro).

Entrepreneurial mindset—comfortable in dynamic environments, with a bias toward action and ownership.

Track record of scrappy, high-quality execution and an interest in building software that serves underserved populations.

Strong AI instincts—interest or experience building agentic systems or applying LLMs to development and testing.

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 3 days per quarter at an Upstart office. If you need to travel to make these meetups, Upstart will cover all travel related expenses.

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-MidSenior

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 — $226,400 USD

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
• Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
• Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options – Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
• Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
• Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
• Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
• 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
• 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 and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).

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