Upstart

Director, Software Engineering, Mobile Platform

Upstart$228K — $315K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in leading mobile engineering teams in high-growth tech environments.
  • Deep expertise in native mobile development (React Native preferred) for both iOS and Android.
  • Strong skills in scaling technical teams and balancing leadership with people management.
  • Experience collaborating closely with Product, Design, and Analytics to create customer-centric mobile experiences.
  • Data-driven mindset with a focus on measuring impact and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and scale the Mobile Platform organization to enhance mobile strategy.
  • Define and execute the vision for the mobile platform, fostering technical excellence and innovation.
  • Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team.
  • Deliver a robust, user-friendly native iOS application for loan management.
  • Establish KPIs to assess engineering efficiency and product performance.
  • Advocate for best practices in mobile development and automation.

Benefits

  • Competitive base salary and performance-based bonuses.
  • Generous 401(k) matching contributions of $2 for every $1 up to $15,000 annually.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted options.
  • Comprehensive health coverage, with Upstart covering up to 100% of costs based on plan selection.
  • Paid family leave and support for caregiving through additional resources.
  • Annual wellness and productivity allowances for personal development.
  • Access to financial planning tools and a concierge service.
Full Job Description
The Team:

As the Director, Software Engineering, Mobile Platform, you will lead and scale Upstart's Mobile Platform organization, shaping and driving our overall mobile platform strategy. With the majority of customer interactions now occurring via mobile, this channel is central to Upstart's continued growth and to our ability to operate as a multi-product company. As an example, Upstart recently announced our first mobile-only product, CashLine. Your leadership will ensure that our mobile platform reliably supports every current and future product, while delivering a seamless, engaging, and high-performing customer experience. Specifically, Mobile Platform engineering is responsible for:
  • Building a Strong Foundation - Developing shared platform capabilities (e.g., account creation, navigation, and observability) that power all loan products on mobile.
  • Accelerate Mobile Development - Reducing friction for product teams by providing reusable components, reliable release pipelines, and high-quality testing frameworks.
  • Expanding Our Reach - Improving application discoverability and onboarding flows (including app downloads and account creation) to bring more customers to Upstart.
  • Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value - Enabling users to seamlessly manage their loan applications, access credit repeatedly, and make monthly repayments effortlessly.

As a key engineering leader, you will collaborate closely with Product Management, Legal & Compliance, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics, and Loan Product teams to drive mobile innovation and excellence. You will have the opportunity to refine the scope and strategy of Upstart's mobile platform, as well as the long-term organizational structure of the mobile platform engineering team.

How you'll make an impact
  • Define and drive the mobile platform vision - Establish a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
  • Lead and grow a high-performing team - Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering leaders and individual contributors, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
  • Deliver a world-class mobile experience - Lead the development of a robust, native iOS application that enables users to apply for loans, manage their accounts, and handle repayments seamlessly.
  • Operationalize success metrics - Establish clear KPIs to measure engineering efficiency, product performance, and business impact.
  • Drive automation and process improvements - Champion best practices in mobile development, CI/CD, testing, and deployment.
  • Strategic Roadmapping & Prioritization - Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute medium- and long-term mobile strategies.


What we're looking for
  • Proven experience leading mobile engineering teams in high-growth, consumer-facing technology companies.
  • Strong background in native mobile development using React Native (both iOS and Android preferred), including deep expertise in engineering best practices, frameworks, and scalable architectures.
  • Demonstrated ability to scale and structure teams, balancing technical leadership with people management.
  • Experience working closely with Product, Design, and Analytics to develop customer-centric mobile experiences.
  • A data-driven mindset, with a strong ability to measure impact and drive continuous improvement.


Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions' cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-Director --> use for L7

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location-with our "digital first" philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).

United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$228,300-$315,900 USD

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location-with our "digital first" philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).

Canada | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$212,500-$270,000 CAD

What you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here's what you can expect:
  • Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
  • Retirement benefits to help you plan for the 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) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only)
  • Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
  • Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only)
  • Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security
  • Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements
  • Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country)
  • Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs
  • 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 (US Only)
  • 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, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
  • Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!)

For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec.

About Upstart

Upstart is a lending platform that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the borrowing process. The company was founded in 2012 by ex-Googlers and has since originated over $10 billion in loans. Upstart's platform uses non-traditional variables such as education and employment history to determine creditworthiness, which allows for more accurate risk assessment and better loan terms for borrowers. The company went public in December 2020 and is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol UPST.
Learn more about Upstart
Size
100 employees
Market Cap
$1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$11 million
Founded
2012
Revenue
$205.3 million
NASDAQ

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