Senior Security Engineer

The Team

Upstart’s Information Security team is dedicated to advancing security practices that enhance the safety of our products, customers, and partners. We believe security should empower innovation, move at the speed of the business, and be built in from the ground up. Our mission is to protect Upstart’s products and enterprise while enabling teams to move quickly and safely through strong collaboration, automation, and thoughtful security design.

Role

Senior Security Engineer – Data Security

Position location: Remote – US
Time zone requirements: East/West Coast time zones
Travel requirements: Regular on‑site collaboration sessions, typically once or twice per quarter for 2‑4 consecutive days.

How you’ll make an impact

• Lead the technical design and execution of Upstart’s data security program, from early foundations through mature, scalable systems
• Architect and build software solutions (APIs, services, and internal tools) that enable effective data protection and governance
• Partner closely with Engineering, Analytics, Product, Legal, Risk, HR, and other stakeholders to secure sensitive data across diverse domains
• Drive adoption of least‑privilege access models and modern data protection patterns across the organization
• Mentor engineers and security practitioners, fostering strong technical standards and a culture of ownership
• Continuously improve systems by learning from real‑world signals such as false positives, operational feedback, and evolving threats

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field (or equivalent) plus 5 years of experience
• Extensive experience across enterprise and operational security domains, with deep focus on Data Security and Identity & Access Management (IAM)
• Experience owning or leading a Data Security, DLP (Data Loss Prevention), or DSPM (Data Security Posture Management) initiative
• Strong software engineering background , with the ability to design and build production‑quality systems (APIs, services, or internal web applications)
• Experience launching new security capabilities from 0 to 1 in complex environments
• Deep understanding of least‑privilege principles and practical experience applying them at scale
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence senior technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, make sound trade‑offs, and independently drive meaningful change

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with cutting‑edge AI data protection tooling such as endpoint DLP, data classification, or posture management platforms (e.g., BigID, Concentric AI, Varonis, Cyera)
• Experience working with diverse data domains (analytics, reporting, business operations, people data)
• Contributions to the security community through talks, publications, open‑source projects, or other industry involvement
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks such as SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOX
• Interest in long‑term growth as a senior individual contributor, with openness to future people leadership paths

Compensation and benefits

Base salary range: $164,800 – $228,400 USD (region dependent). Target bonuses, equity, and benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), health savings account, life and disability insurance, paid time off, family leave, employee assistance program, financial wellness resources, wellness and productivity allowances, and community events. Remote employees are eligible for the same compensation and benefits provisions as in‑office employees.

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide reasonable accommodation for candidates during the application, interview, and pre‑employment testing process. Motivated by innovative impact, we invite you to apply.