Senior Software Engineer, Recurring Credit

Upstart, the leading AI lending marketplace, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join their Recurring Credit team. This role represents one of Upstart's most ambitious new product initiatives: developing a mobile-first line of credit designed to replace payday loans, cash advance apps, and subprime credit cards with safer, more sustainable alternatives.

The position offers an unique opportunity to work in a team structured more like a startup within Upstart, focusing on building both innovative products and establishing new models for AI-native engineering operations. The role requires expertise in backend systems development, with emphasis on distributed architectures and event-driven services.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll be responsible for designing and implementing core backend systems powering instant disbursements, subscription billing, and repayment schedules. The role demands strong technical depth in distributed systems, working with technologies like Kafka and various OO languages including Java, Kotlin, Python, or Ruby.

The ideal candidate brings 4+ years of production backend systems experience, demonstrating ability to ship zero-to-one systems while maintaining focus on product outcomes. You'll need to balance technical excellence with business impact, ensuring reliability and scale while moving quickly in a greenfield environment.

What makes this opportunity special is the combination of technical challenge and social impact. You'll be working on systems that directly affect financial inclusion, while leveraging cutting-edge AI tools and practices. The role offers competitive compensation ($142,000-$226,400), comprehensive benefits, and the flexibility of remote work or office locations in San Mateo, Columbus, or Austin.

The team culture emphasizes both autonomy and collaboration, with regular on-site collaboration sessions quarterly. You'll have the opportunity to shape engineering culture through API design and scalable practices, while working in an environment that values both technical excellence and measurable impact on underserved consumers.