Upstart Principal Software Engineer Role in AI Lending

About the Role

This Principal Software Engineer position at Upstart focuses on launching a new product aimed at expanding access to responsible and affordable credit through innovative AI-driven solutions. The role centers on a small, senior engineering team operating like a startup within the company, emphasizing quick, autonomous development with a greenfield codebase and an AI-native approach. Candidates in this position will set technical direction for backend systems, mentor team members, and influence product strategy in a fast-paced environment that redefines efficient engineering practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish technical direction and lead architectural design for core backend systems supporting a new consumer credit product.
• Develop distributed, event-driven services that ensure reliability, observability, and scalability for long-term system evolution.
• Drive zero-to-one product development by collaborating with cross-functional partners to turn ambiguous goals into effective solutions.
• Promote engineering velocity and quality by defining patterns, practices, and tooling across the technology stack.
• Integrate AI tools to enhance development workflows, minimize friction, and boost overall impact.
• Mentor team members and serve as a thought leader in a high-performing, agile engineering group.
• Shape product direction using technical insights, customer empathy, and balanced considerations of speed, scale, and quality.

Requirements

• At least eight years of experience designing and building production backend systems for consumer-scale applications.
• Deep knowledge of distributed systems and event-driven architectures, including tools like Kafka, Kinesis, or SQS, with expertise in idempotency, retries, and fault tolerance.
• Proficiency in an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Kotlin, C#, Python, or Ruby, plus hands-on work with APIs, databases, and caching systems.
• Proven track record in leading complex, zero-to-one product development in ambiguous or rapidly evolving settings.
• Experience building with observability in mind, incorporating metrics, logs, traces, and alerting for operational excellence.
• Active utilization of AI tools in engineering processes, coupled with a visionary outlook on AI’s role in software development.

Compensation & Benefits

• Anticipated base salary range of $186,100 to $257,500 USD for remote positions in the United States, with total compensation including bonuses and equity.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, including contributions to a Health Savings Account.
• Generous 401(k) plan with company matching up to $2 for every $1 contributed, capped at $15,000 annually.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and life and disability insurance.
• Abundant holiday, vacation, sick, and safety leave, plus supportive policies for parental, family care, and military needs.
• Annual reimbursements for wellness, technology, and ergonomic setups, along with social activities like team events, employee resource groups, and interest-based clubs.
• Catered lunches, snacks, and drinks available when working from Upstart offices.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply directly via the Apply Now button above. Visit the original listing for full application details.