Software Engineer – Lifecycle

Role Overview

• Design and build scalable backend services that power our unified communications platform across SMS, email, push, and future channels.
• Develop systems for real-time, event-triggered messaging and self-serve marketing automation and experimentation capabilities.
• Translate large, complex datasets into high-leverage marketing capabilities through APIs, streaming pipelines, and reverse ETL workflows.
• Partner closely with product managers, lifecycle marketing, data insights, analytics, and data platform teams to define requirements and deliver impactful, data-driven solutions.
• Lead medium-sized projects independently—proactively identifying risks, managing ambiguity, and driving execution from design through launch.
• Strengthen our engineering culture by improving system reliability, accelerating iteration, and clearly communicating technical trade-offs to cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics, or a related field (or its equivalent) + 3 years of experience
• Experience building and operating microservices and APIs in a cloud environment (preferably AWS).
• Proficiency in at least one backend language such as Kotlin, Java, Ruby, or Python.
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute on projects, navigate ambiguity, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work in a distributed team
• Experience supporting Marketing, Growth, or GTM teams, particularly in environments involving CDPs, customer segmentation, or campaign orchestration.
• Experience with reverse ETL tools (e.g., Hightouch, Census), data pipeline tooling (e.g., Airbyte, Fivetran, Databricks), or marketing automation platforms (e.g., Iterable, Braze, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud).
• Familiarity with real-time event streaming systems and high-throughput messaging architectures.
• Experience integrating with third-party APIs and building systems that ingest, transform, and expose large volumes of data.
• Track record of leading medium-to-large projects and contributing to system design decisions with long-term platform impact.

Tech Stack

• AWS
• Cloud
• ETL
• Java
• Kotlin
• Microservices
• Python
• Ruby

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!).