Principal Software Engineer, New Product

About the Role

Our team is focused on launching a new product that aims to expand access to responsible and affordable credit. We're looking for someone who can drive zero-to-one product development, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and champion engineering velocity and quality. If you're passionate about building distributed, event-driven services that are reliable, observable, and scalable, we want to hear from you.

What You Will Do

• Set technical direction and lead architectural design for core backend systems that power a new consumer credit product
• Build distributed, event-driven services that are reliable, observable, and scalable—designed for long-term evolution
• Drive zero-to-one product development in collaboration with cross-functional partners, translating ambiguous product goals into high-impact solutions
• Champion engineering velocity and quality by shaping patterns, practices, and tooling across the stack
• Lead with an AI-native mindset—leveraging and integrating AI tools to improve development workflows, reduce friction, and accelerate impact
• Serve as a technical mentor and thought leader within a high-performing, fast-moving team
• Influence product direction through technical insights, customer empathy, and an ability to balance tradeoffs between speed, scale, and quality
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize project requirements
• Develop and maintain technical documentation to ensure knowledge sharing and continuity

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of experience designing and building backend systems in production, with a focus on consumer-scale applications
• Deep expertise in distributed systems and event-driven architectures (Kafka, Kinesis, SQS, etc.), including experience with idempotency, retries, and fault tolerance
• Strong command of an object-oriented programming language (e.g., Java, Kotlin, C#, Python, Ruby), along with experience working with APIs, databases, and caching systems
• Proven success leading complex, zero-to-one product development in ambiguous or fast-changing environments
• Demonstrated ability to influence product strategy through technical leadership and user-centric thinking
• Track record of building with observability and operational excellence in mind (metrics, logs, traces, alerting, etc.)
• Active use of AI tools in engineering, with a forward-looking perspective on how AI is reshaping the industry

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud-based infrastructure and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git)
• Strong understanding of security and compliance principles, with experience implementing secure coding practices

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous PTO and holiday policy
• Remote work stipend and equipment budget
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Recognition and reward for outstanding performance
• Flexible working hours and work-life balance,

• Tip: Highlight your experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures, as these are key requirements for the role.
• Tip: Showcase your ability to lead and mentor team members, as this is a key aspect of the Principal Software Engineer position.
• Tip: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools and how you've applied them to improve development workflows and accelerate impact.
• Tip: Emphasize your understanding of security and compliance principles, as these are critical in the fintech industry.
• Tip: Prepare to walk through your design and development process, highlighting your problem-solving skills and ability to balance tradeoffs between speed, scale, and quality.
• Tip: Research Upstart's mission and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's goals and culture.
• Tip: Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview process, such as what a typical day looks like in the role or what the biggest challenges are that the team is currently facing.