Principal Software Engineer

Upstart is an AI lending marketplace that partners with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology. The Principal Software Engineer will provide technical leadership for internal platforms and automation systems supporting Upstart Bank, driving architecture, solving complex technical challenges, and establishing secure, scalable engineering practices.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of internal platforms, security automation systems, and workflow tooling that support Upstart Bank operations
• Establish scalable engineering patterns, technical standards, and system designs that enable long-term platform growth and maintainability
• Partner with stakeholders across risk, compliance, legal, operations, and engineering to translate complex business requirements into durable software solutions
• Design and oversee relational data models, authorization systems, integrations, and platform services that support secure and reliable operations
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, making thoughtful decisions around system architecture, platform investments, and build-versus-buy tradeoffs
• Mentor engineers through technical leadership, architectural reviews, design documentation, and engineering best practices
• Drive technical strategy for internal platforms and automation initiatives as the bank expands its operational and regulatory capabilities

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience) and 8+ years of software engineering experience
• Experience designing, building, and operating large-scale production software systems and web applications
• Experience leading architecture and technical design for distributed systems, platform services, or internal software platforms
• Experience designing relational database schemas, APIs, integrations, authentication systems, and role-based access control frameworks
• Experience partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver software solutions supporting operational, compliance, security, or business-critical workflows
• Knowledge of TypeScript, Node.js, Next.js, Prisma, or similar modern application frameworks
• Experience building security automation, governance, risk and compliance (GRC) platforms, or operational workflow systems
• Familiarity with regulated industries such as financial services, banking, healthcare, or other compliance-driven environments
• Knowledge of compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, NIST CSF, or similar regulatory standards
• Ability to influence technical strategy, drive alignment across teams, and navigate ambiguous problem spaces with sound engineering judgment