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 Mobile team is in the midst of a transformation—from a scrappy, embedded model into a world-class, scalable engineering platform. As we expand our iOS app and launch Android, our need for dedicated backend expertise has never been greater.

You’ll be the first backend engineer embedded within the mobile team, working alongside React Native developers and product partners to shape foundational systems for engagement, messaging, and performance. This is a highly influential role with the opportunity to define backend architecture in support of Upstart’s mobile-first evolution.

How you’ll make an impact:

Architect scalable, reusable backend systems that power critical mobile features, including push notifications, data synchronization, and cross-device user flows
Shape the long-term backend strategy for mobile, reducing ad-hoc and duplicated efforts across teams
Act as a technical bridge—translating mobile needs into backend capabilities and unblocking delivery velocity
Drive architectural alignment across teams and domains, advocating for scalable patterns that support mobile growth
Identify and resolve cross-functional technical challenges that span platform, product, and infrastructure boundaries
Mentor engineers across mobile and backend teams, introducing sustainable practices and improving system maintainability
Contribute directly to Upstart’s ability to scale its mobile engagement and retention—impacting both user experience and business performance

What we’re looking for:

Minimum requirements:
- 6+ years of backend engineering experience, including designing and scaling distributed systems
- Deep experience with service-oriented architecture, system design, and API development for mobile applications
- Proven ability to influence technical direction across teams and communicate architectural tradeoffs to stakeholders
- Experience collaborating with mobile teams or supporting mobile-first features at scale
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, especially in environments with competing priorities
- Proficiency in at least one backend language (e.g., Ruby, Go, Kotlin) and fluency in cloud infrastructure patterns
- Demonstrated success operating without authority in complex, cross-functional organizations

Preferred qualifications:
- - Prior experience building systems that support mobile clients (e.g., push notifications, offline sync, background jobs)
  - Experience working in a hybrid mobile architecture (e.g., React Native + native codebases)
  - Exposure to both platform and product engineering challenges
  - Familiarity with mobile-specific performance and reliability concerns
  - Background in mentorship or technical leadership across multiple teams
  - Passion for designing elegant, sustainable systems that scale with product ambition

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 --> use for L5, L6

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

$186,100—$257,500 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 [email protected]

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy

Principal Software Engineer

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