Upstart · 2 weeks ago
Principal Software Engineer - Core GenAI Platform
United States
Full-time
Remote
Lead/Staff
$186K/yr - $258K/yr
10+ years expUpstart is a leading AI lending marketplace focused on reducing the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership for their GenAI Core Platform, shaping the vision and architecture while ensuring the responsible use of LLMs across the organization.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)AutomotiveConsumer LendingCreditFinancial ServicesFinTechLendingMachine LearningPersonal Finance
Responsibilities
Define and drive the multi-year technical roadmap for the Core GenAI Platform, influencing adoption and alignment across several engineering teams
Lead architecture and design of large-scale, mission-critical systems for model inference, orchestration, and compliance
Identify and solve systemic technical risks that impact multiple teams and business-critical AI initiatives
Build high-leverage, generalizable platform components that meaningfully accelerate the productivity of engineers across Upstart
Mentor senior engineers (L5) and shape the growth of future technical leaders, fostering a culture of learning and excellence
Collaborate with VP-level and above leadership to influence business strategy with technical insight
Represent Upstart internally and externally as a thought leader in GenAI systems through executive reviews, cross-company forums, and industry venues
Establish operational standards for GenAI integrations, ensuring security, fairness, and reliability at scale
Qualification
Required
10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 3 years leading large-scale, cross-team technical initiatives
Proven track record of delivering complex, distributed systems and platform infrastructure that span multiple teams
Deep expertise in backend systems and infrastructure technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, and cloud-native architectures
Experience designing and operationalizing ML/LLM platforms at scale, including optimization for cost, latency, and reliability
Demonstrated ability to set long-term technical direction and influence organizational strategy
Excellent communication skills with a history of driving alignment across engineering and business stakeholders
Preferred
Full-stack engineering experience (Python, FastAPI, Kotlin, Spring, React/TypeScript, or similar)
Expertise in LLM-specific infrastructure such as inference optimization (quantization, ONNX, streaming), retrieval-augmented generation, and vector databases
Hands-on experience with LLM toolchains such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or OpenAI APIs
Recognized as a technical leader beyond your immediate team, influencing platform strategy across organizations
Awareness of industry best practices and risks in GenAI including hallucination mitigation, fairness, explainability, and data privacy
Experience mentoring senior engineers and shaping organizational standards for operational excellence
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!)
Company
Upstart
Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST) is a leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Upstart has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (68)
2024 (67)
2023 (85)
2022 (85)
2021 (42)
2020 (15)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$3.36BKey Investors
CastlelakeProgressiveRakuten
2025-11-06Post Ipo Debt· $1.5B
2025-09-05Post Ipo Debt· $320M
2025-08-12Post Ipo Debt· $600M
Leadership Team
Dave Girouard
Founder & CEO
Paul Gu
Co-Founder
Recent News
The Motley Fool
2026-01-23
Business Wire
2026-01-22
The Motley Fool
2026-01-03
Company data provided by crunchbase