Senior Software Engineer, Upstart Bank

About the role

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.

What you'll do

Design and build scalable systems, services, and user-facing workflows that directly support the core platform and operations of Upstart Bank. Own technical design and delivery for medium-to-large engineering initiatives spanning multiple quarters, ensuring clear milestones and execution. Translate complex business, operational, and regulatory requirements into reliable, maintainable software that meets strict compliance expectations. Improve system reliability, performance, observability, and data consistency across distributed services and critical integrations. Contribute to architecture and design discussions, helping systems evolve for scale, auditability, and long-term maintainability. Partner with product, compliance, operations, and other engineers to deliver high-quality solutions in a regulated environment. Uphold a high engineering bar through strong implementation, disciplined code review, robust testing, and proactive operational ownership. Drive end-to-end delivery on complex initiatives, coordinating with stakeholders to align technical execution to business outcomes. Implement monitoring, alerting, and diagnostic tooling to support resilient, transparent, and maintainable production systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define, prioritize, and execute against technical roadmaps that balance innovation and stability. Write clean, well-documented, and testable code that adheres to internal standards and best practices for long-term maintainability. Support the operation of Upstart Bank by building tools and workflows that enhance efficiency, transparency, and audit readiness.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field (or equivalent) plus 4 years of relevant experience. Experience building and operating production software systems in backend or full-stack environments. Experience building scalable services, APIs, or web applications within cloud environments. Experience owning the technical delivery of medium-to-large engineering projects spanning multiple quarters. Proficiency in at least one modern programming language such as Python, Java, or Kotlin. Strong understanding of software design patterns, system architecture, and distributed systems principles. Demonstrated ability to translate complex requirements into technical specifications and implementation plans. Comfort working in a regulated environment where documentation, auditability, and compliance are essential.

Nice to have

Experience working in financial services or regulated environments. Familiarity with payment systems, lending platforms, or banking infrastructure. Knowledge of modern observability practices, including logging, metrics, and tracing. Experience with infrastructure as code and cloud-native deployment patterns.

Practical notes

This is a full-time role based in the United States with remote flexibility. Digital-first work is supported, with the expectation of occasional in-person collaboration for team onsites and planning sessions. Team locations may include Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026).