Principal Mobile Software Engineer

Role Overview

• Drive technical strategy for our mobile apps — from platform architecture to product scalability and developer experience.
• Build foundational systems in React Native that enable fast, high-quality feature development across both iOS and Android.
• Collaborate with product and design to scope, implement, and launch user-facing features that align with company goals.
• Bridge mobile and backend systems by shaping APIs and improving client-server interaction patterns.
• Identify friction in the mobile development lifecycle and lead improvements to tooling, modularization, CI, and testing strategies.
• Mentor engineers and help grow a culture of ownership, technical rigor, and continuous learning.
• Influence both product and platform direction as we scale our mobile efforts across multiple surfaces and teams.
• Support company goals such as improving user engagement, increasing retention, and unlocking new growth channels through mobile innovation.
• Help define and uphold the engineering culture, patterns, and practices that guide mobile development at Upstart.

Requirements

• Have 8+ years of professional software development experience, including meaningful contributions to production mobile apps.
• Have built and maintained features in both React Native and at least one native platform (e.g., Swift/Objective-C for iOS or Kotlin/Java for Android).
• Understand the nuances of mobile performance, memory management, and platform-specific challenges.
• Have led architecture planning and helped engineering teams make informed tradeoffs.
• Communicate early and often with cross-functional partners in product, design, backend, and QA to ensure alignment and shared understanding.
• Take ownership of your work from design through delivery, and value long-term thinking over quick fixes.
• Appreciate the strength of diverse perspectives and thrive on being part of an inclusive, collaborative team.
• Embrace a growth mindset, value mentorship, and enjoy helping others grow.

Tech Stack

• Android
• iOS
• Java
• Kotlin
• Objective-C
• React
• React Native
• Swift

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
• Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
• Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options
• Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
• Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short
• and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
• Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
• Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
• 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
• 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 and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).