Director OF Software Engineering

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: As the Director, Software Engineering, Mobile Platform , you will lead and scale Upstart’s Mobile Platform organization, shaping and driving our overall mobile platform strategy. With the majority of customer interactions now occurring via mobile, this channel is central to Upstart’s continued growth and to our ability to operate as a multi-product company. As an example, Upstart recently announced our first mobile-only product, CashLine. Your leadership will ensure that our mobile platform reliably supports every current and future product, while delivering a seamless, engaging, and high-performing customer experience. Specifically, Mobile Platform engineering is responsible for: Building a Strong Foundation – Developing shared platform capabilities (e.g., account creation, navigation, and observability) that power all loan products on mobile. Accelerate Mobile Development – Reducing friction for product teams by providing reusable components, reliable release pipelines, and high-quality testing frameworks. Expanding Our Reach – Improving application discoverability and onboarding flows (including app downloads and account creation) to bring more customers to Upstart. Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value – Enabling users to seamlessly manage their loan applications, access credit repeatedly, and make monthly repayments effortlessly. As a key engineering leader, you will collaborate closely with Product Management, Legal & Compliance, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics, and Loan Product teams to drive mobile innovation and excellence. You will have the opportunity to refine the scope and strategy of Upstart’s mobile platform, as well as the long-term organizational structure of the mobile platform engineering team. How you’ll make an impact Define and drive the mobile platform vision – Establish a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Lead and grow a high-performing team – Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering leaders and individual contributors, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. Deliver a world-class mobile experience – Lead the development of a robust, native iOS application that enables users to apply for loans, manage their accounts, and handle repayments seamlessly. Operationalize success metrics – Establish clear KPIs to measure engineering efficiency, product performance, and business impact. Drive automation and process improvements – Champion best practices in mobile development, CI/CD, testing, and deployment. Strategic Roadmapping & Prioritization – Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute medium- and long-term mobile strategies. What we're looking for Proven experience leading mobile engineering teams in high-growth, consumer-facing technology companies. Strong background in native mobile development using React Native (both iOS and Android preferred), including deep expertise in engineering best practices, frameworks, and scalable architectures. Demonstrated ability to scale and structure teams, balancing technical leadership with people management. Experience working closely with Product, Design, and Analytics to develop customer-centric mobile experiences. A data-driven mindset, with a strong ability to measure impact and drive continuous improvement. Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time. #LI-REMOTE #LI-Director --> use for L7 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 $228,300 - $315,900 USD 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). Canada | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range $212,500 - $270,000 CAD 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 Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada) Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only) Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada. Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only) Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country) Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs 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 (US Only) 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, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs) Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!) For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io