Senior Software Engineer, Marketplace Optimization

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Design, develop, and maintain highly available backend services that support Upstart's real-time lending marketplace.

• Create scalable systems that facilitate swift experimentation while ensuring the reliability of essential production services.

• Collaborate with Product, Machine Learning, Capital Markets, and Analytics teams to convert intricate business challenges into sophisticated technical solutions.

• Construct adaptable platform capabilities that allow for new marketplace optimization and monetization strategies.

• Enhance the scalability, observability, and operational excellence of systems that make real-time marketplace decisions.

• Engage in architecture discussions, code reviews, testing, and take operational ownership of critical production systems.

⛳️ Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).

• Over 5 years of professional experience in software engineering, specifically in building backend or distributed systems.

• Proven experience in developing production services using one or more languages such as Ruby on Rails, Python, or Kotlin.

• Skilled in designing APIs and constructing scalable distributed systems.

• Experienced in managing business-critical production services, focusing on reliability, monitoring, testing, and operational excellence.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and modern cloud-native application development.

• Proven track record of collaborating across engineering, product, and business stakeholders.

• Experience in building marketplaces, recommendation systems, optimization engines, or financial systems (preferred).

• Knowledge of event-driven architectures, Kafka, workflow orchestration, or real-time data processing (preferred).

• Experience working alongside Machine Learning or Data Science teams (preferred).

• Proven ability to enhance platform scalability and evolve distributed system architecture (preferred).

• Interest in tackling complex optimization challenges that involve both technical and business considerations (preferred).

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive compensation package, including base salary, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.

• Retirement benefits to secure your future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada).

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) providing discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only).

• Comprehensive health coverage tailored to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for the US, along with supplemental health coverage for Canada.

• Contributions from Upstart for Health Savings Accounts for eligible plans (US only).

• Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for additional financial security.

• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, compliant with local regulations.

• Paid family and parental leave to accommodate caregiving and significant life events (duration varies by country).

• Family-oriented benefits to assist with fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing mental health support and life-centered resources.

• Financial wellness tools, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only).

• Annual wellness allowance to promote your physical and emotional well-being and personal growth, based on your priorities.

• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources essential for your best work, regardless of your work location.

• Community and connection through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs).

• Onsite amenities, such as catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).