Upstart

Senior Technical Program Manager

Upstart • $162K — $224K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in a Technical Program Management role overseeing complex software initiatives.
  • Proven skill in converting ambiguous, multi-stakeholder problems into actionable plans with clarity on milestones.
  • Strong collaboration track record with Product Managers and Engineering teams, demonstrating understanding of roles and responsibilities.
  • Technical understanding of software architecture, data models, and vendor integrations to evaluate trade-offs in approaches.
  • Experience linking program execution to tangible business outcomes.

Responsibilities

  • Lead cross-functional software initiatives from alignment through to delivery.
  • Turn complex problems into actionable plans with clear milestones and accountability.
  • Collaborate with Product Managers on strategy and prioritize initiatives effectively.
  • Engage in technical discussions to evaluate software architecture and data pipelines.
  • Identify and mitigate blockers early to reduce risks in project delivery.
  • Create efficient working processes that enhance visibility without excessive bureaucracy.

Benefits

  • Competitive base salary with performance-based bonuses and stock options.
  • 401(k) plan with generous company match for retirement savings.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Paid time off, family leave, and company holidays.
  • Annual wellness and productivity allowances for personal development.
  • Employee Assistance Program for mental health support and resources.
Full Job Description
The Team

Upstart's Auto Retail team is bringing Upstart's AI-powered underwriting combined with best-in-class software to help all Americans get better access, lower rates and a better process when purchasing a vehicle. Auto lending represents over $600B in annual volume across over 70K dealerships and is used by almost every household in the country yet has record low process satisfaction, transparency, and credit access. We aim to change that. The team partners across Product, Engineering, Analytics, Machine Learning, Servicing, Fraud, dealer-facing functions and more to improve the experience for lenders, dealers, and consumers.

As a Senior Technical Program Manager, you will own program planning, execution and outcomes for complex, high-impact Auto Retail initiatives. You will turn ambiguous, multi-stakeholder work into clear plans, drive decisions, manage dependencies and risks, and help teams deliver reliably and with quality. You will partner with Product Managers, who own product strategy and priorities, and Engineering Managers and engineers, who own technical design and implementation. Your leverage will come from technical judgment, cross-functional leadership, bringing clarity from ambiguity, and the practical execution systems you build.

You'll help accelerate the quality, speed, and adoption of the software and features we build by:
  • Surfacing operational signals and customer pain points
  • Analyzing problems and opportunities and developing clear, stack-ranked recommendations
  • Driving PM-prioritized initiatives from technical planning through launch and rollout
  • Establishing continuous feedback loops by monitoring post-launch results and identifying opportunities for iteration and improvement
How you'll make an impact
  • Lead complex, cross-functional software initiatives from alignment through delivery, coordinating across Product, Engineering, Servicing, Analytics, Machine Learning, Fraud, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and dealer-facing partners.
  • Translate ambiguous, multi-stakeholder problem spaces into actionable plans with clear milestones, dependencies, risks, decision points, and owners.
  • Partner with Product Managers on business strategy and prioritization, and with Engineering Managers and engineering teams on technical approaches and execution plans.
  • Engage meaningfully in technical discussions by evaluating software architecture, data models, data movement, data pipelines, and trade-offs among potential approaches.
  • Identify blockers, clarify ambiguous ownership, surface downstream impacts early, and help teams resolve issues before they create delivery risk.
  • Establish practical, lightweight ways of working that improve coordination and visibility across teams without creating unnecessary reporting or process overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Professional experience in a Technical Program Management role, including ownership of complex, cross-functional software initiatives.
  • Experience translating ambiguous, multi-stakeholder problems into executable plans with milestones, dependencies, risks, and clear ownership.
  • Experience working in a TPM or similar role directly with product managers and engineering managers and their teams with a clear understanding of ownership, roles, and responsibilities.
  • Technical fluency in software architecture, data models, third party vendor integrations, and data pipelines, with the ability to evaluate trade-offs among technical approaches.
  • Experience delivering initiatives across Product and Engineering while connecting program execution to measurable business or customer outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working in a complex industry, a multi-sided marketplace, or B2B2C environment with competing stakeholders and priorities such as speed, quality, reliability, and scale.
  • Experience partnering with teams in financial services, auto retail, servicing, fraud, analytics, Machine Learning, or other operationally complex domains.
  • Experience establishing and scaling practical program-management processes in an environment where ownership and ways of working are still evolving.
  • Experience in a growth-stage technology company or other environment where teams must move quickly while managing execution risk.

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.

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

$162,100-$224,500 USD

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

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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