Principal Software Engineer, Upstart
$190.6-263.9k
+ Bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly + ESPP
More information about location
AI lending marketplace
Be an early applicant
AI lending marketplace
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$190.6-263.9k
+ Bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly + ESPP
More information about location
1001+ employees
Company mission
To enable effortless credit based on true risk.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience) and 8+ years of software engineering experience
- Experience designing, building, and operating large-scale production software systems and web applications
- Experience leading architecture and technical design for distributed systems, platform services, or internal software platforms
- Experience designing relational database schemas, APIs, integrations, authentication systems, and role-based access control frameworks
- Experience partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver software solutions supporting operational, compliance, security, or business-critical workflows
Desirable
- Knowledge of TypeScript, Node.js, Next.js, Prisma, or similar modern application frameworks
- Experience building security automation, governance, risk and compliance (GRC) platforms, or operational workflow systems
- Familiarity with regulated industries such as financial services, banking, healthcare, or other compliance-driven environments
- Knowledge of compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, NIST CSF, or similar regulatory standards
- Ability to influence technical strategy, drive alignment across teams, and navigate ambiguous problem spaces with sound engineering judgment
What the job involves
- Upstart's Bank Technology team builds the internal platforms, security automation, and operational systems that enable Upstart Bank to operate securely, efficiently, and at scale
- The team partners closely with stakeholders across risk, legal, compliance, security, and operations to create software solutions that support the bank's growth as a licensed financial institution
- As a Principal Software Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across a growing portfolio of internal platforms and automation systems
- You will drive architectural direction, solve complex technical challenges, and establish engineering patterns that enable the team to deliver secure, scalable, and maintainable solutions for the bank's most critical operational functions
- Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of internal platforms, security automation systems, and workflow tooling that support Upstart Bank operations
- Establish scalable engineering patterns, technical standards, and system designs that enable long-term platform growth and maintainability
- Partner with stakeholders across risk, compliance, legal, operations, and engineering to translate complex business requirements into durable software solutions
- Design and oversee relational data models, authorization systems, integrations, and platform services that support secure and reliable operations
- Identify and mitigate technical risks, making thoughtful decisions around system architecture, platform investments, and build-versus-buy tradeoffs
- Mentor engineers through technical leadership, architectural reviews, design documentation, and engineering best practices
- Drive technical strategy for internal platforms and automation initiatives as the bank expands its operational and regulatory capabilities
Our take
Based in San Mateo, California, Upstart is piositioning itself as a leading AI lending marketplace, connecting millions of consumers with more than 100 banks and credit unions. In a market where credit access can be limited by traditional scoring methods, Upstart aims to make lending fairer and more accessible by using technology to better understand each borrowers true potential.
Upstart builds AI and cloud-based tools that help lenders approve more borrowers at lower rates. Its models analyze thousands of variables (not just credit scores) to predict creditworthiness more accurately. And through its platform, consumers can access personal, auto, and home-equity loans, as well as smaller "relief" loans, all through a seamless digital experience.
So far, its success is reflected in its high loan automation rate (over 90% of loans are fully processed without human intervention) and the billions in loan originations it has facilitated. The company continues to refine its AI models and expand its offerings, with the goal of helping lenders serve more customers while making borrowing easier and more affordable.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
-16% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Apr 2019
$50m
SERIES D
Mar 2017
$32.5m
SERIES D
Total funding: $135.7m
Company benefits
- Comprehensive health plans
- 401k Plan
- Annual wellness reimbursement
- Disability insurance
- Generous vacation policy
- Flexible time off
- Parental leave
- Family forming benefits through Carrot
- Technology equipment budget
- Personal development budget
- Various clubs and extracurricular activities
- Catered lunches
- Fully stocked micro-kitchen
Company HQ
South San Mateo, San Mateo, CA
Leadership
David Girouard
(Founder & CEO)They started their career at Accenture and Booz Allen & Hamilton before working in Product Management at Apple and Virage. They left their role of 8 years as President of Enterprise at Google to found Upstart in March 2012.
Share this job
View 59 more jobs at Upstart