Upstart
Principal Software Engineer
Job Summary
Upstart is seeking a senior backend engineer to support its mobile team during a platform transformation. The role involves architecting scalable backend systems for mobile features such as push notifications, data sync, and user flows, and shaping the long-term mobile backend strategy. Candidates should have extensive experience in designing distributed systems, API development, and working with mobile-first features, with proficiency in at least one backend language and cloud infrastructure. The position offers opportunities to influence technical direction, mentor teams, and contribute to scalable, sustainable systems supporting Upstart's innovative digital lending platform.
Required Skills
Benefits
Job Description
About Upstart
Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload.
Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.
Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, 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
- 6+ years of backend engineering experience, including designing and scaling distributed systems
- Preferred qualifications:
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- 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
- Prior experience building systems that support mobile clients (e.g., push notifications, offline sync, background jobs)
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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.
What you'll love:
- Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart
- 401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savings
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
- Life and disability insurance
- Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave
- Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
- Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
- Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
- Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices
#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).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented classes receive better access to affordable credit, and are just as committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices. We celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and know that we can only become better together.
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]
Upstart
A lending platform using AI to provide personal loans and credit solutions with a focus on fair and fast approvals.
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